250 WOLF-HUNTING. 



above, we landed the hero alongside his mortal foe amid a roar 

 of growls that would have terrified a gladiator. The very 

 moment he caught sight of the company he was in, forgetting 

 his wounds, and by way of venting his ill-humour, he dashed at 

 the wolfs throat, and never relaxed his hold till St. Prix, after 

 wiping the blood from his face with a pocket-handkerchief, 

 commenced pouring some brandy into the gashes with which 

 his head was seamed. The torture inflicted by this treatment 

 made him let go at once ; and then came another roar, angry 

 and fierce as that of Cerberus when Hercules rescued Alceste 

 from Pluto's dread domain. But it was of short duration, that 

 roar of agony : a few gentle words from the Louvetier seemed to- 

 satisfy the sagacious old hound that it was all done for his good : 

 and, lifting his head, he licked his master's hand with a touching 

 air of gratitude and affection. 



While St. Prix still persevered in sounding the mort for 

 neither Louis Trefarreg, nor Shafto, nor the other chasseurs had 

 as yet answered the signal, nor had a hound of the relay reached 

 the rocks it became evident that something must have occurred 

 to take them in an opposite direction, and that, too, beyond the 

 reach of the Louvetier's horn. 



" And still he blew a louder blast, 

 And gave a lustier cheer; " 



but echo alone answered the prolonged notes, and even they, 

 growing fainter and fainter, soon ceased to disturb the silence of 

 that lone forest for many a rood round. 



" I see plainly what has happened," said St. Prix, boiling over 

 with impatience, and weaty of delay. " The hounds have crossed 

 the line of the dog-wolf, and gone away with him nobody knows 

 where." 



" Except those lucky fellows, Louis and the rest of them, who 

 are now enjoying their turn of luck, as we have had ours," said 



