WILD SPORT IN BKITTANY. 259 



This out-spoken opinion of course provoked a laugh, but did 

 not prevent that kind, large-hearted man from going on with his 

 scheme, and doing all in his power to find employment for the 

 convict class released from prison on tickets-of-leave. 



The next morning at breakfast, St. Prix, to our infinite regret, 

 announced his intention of taking his hounds home to Morlaix 

 so soon as they were able, after their recent hard work, to 

 undergo the journey. " The duties of my office have now been 

 fulfilled," said he, " in this district and although I shall turn 

 my back on you and it with much pain, the wolf," he added, 

 dropping his voice to a whisper, " is a precious animal, and 

 merits some consideration, at least on our parts, for the sport 

 he shows in these wild forests. Besides, a blank day, such as 

 we had at Locrist, I should be sorry to inflict on you ever again ; 

 and to guard against its recurrence for the future we must be 

 careful not to diminish our present stock beyond a certain limit, 

 or disappointment will be the sure result." 



" No fear of that, I should hope," said I. " These forests 

 of yours are so grand and continuous, and the population so 

 sparse, that even if you had an Edgar ruling over you, the 

 extermination of the wolf would be a thing impossible in such 

 a country." 



" True enough ; it would take a long time and mighty efforts 

 to exterminate the race ; but still, as guns are now so commonly 

 carried by all classes of the community, and every peasant, unless 

 handsomely paid for it, murders a wolf as he would a viper, the 

 stock might easily be so reduced as to render a find in these vast 

 forests a matter of frequent uncertainty." 



While this discussion was going on, the sound of a vehicle 

 rattling over the stones, and brought to a standstill at the doors 

 of the hotel, suddenly arrested the Louvetier's attention, who, 

 springing from his seat, and announcing his belief that old Caesar 

 and the tufters had arrived from Callac, proceeded at once to 



