272 WOLF-HUNTING. 



brush level with his back, as he flashed ahead, like a comet over 

 the arch of heaven. 



" Give it him, Frank ! " shouted Keryfan, who, although some 

 forty yards off, was my nearest neighbour. " A fair broadside as 

 I ever saw : give him both barrels." 



But the veteris vestigia flammce made my pulse tingle at the 

 sight of him, and I felt as if my right arm would have been 

 paralysed at the socket if I had struck down that noble fellow. 



" No," I said, " I couldn't do it. Old memories would never 

 forgive the deed ; nor could I ever look Jack Russell in the face 

 again if I once shot a fox " 



" Diable ! " retorted he, with a look of surprise. " Not shoot 

 a fox, Frank, in this wilderness ? Why, here he is really a 

 noxious animal does a deal of mischief, and shows no sport. 

 Depend upon it, the carpenter, who estimates the value of his 

 skin at three francs, will set you down as a veritable Quixote for 

 the rest of your life." 



" Can't help that," I replied ; and as I gave him a rattling 

 cheer, his brush swung round, as if saying adieu and waving 

 his gratitude for the clemency I had shown him. A little vicky, 

 however, doubtless his co-partner in the patch of gorse, was less 

 fortunate in her tactics, for, breaking at the point guarded by the 

 peasants, three of whom fired at her one after the other, she fell 

 dead to the last shot. Nevertheless, all three claimed a share in 

 the spoil, swearing, each one of them, that his shot had dealt 

 the fatal coup. As a sharp wrangle was the result, the carpenter, 

 on being appealed to as arbitrator, pronounced at once in favour 

 of all three claimants that being the customary practice on such 

 occasions. 



Their eagerness for the skin, considering the grim poverty of 

 these men, was scarcely to be wondered at, seeing it was valued at 

 three francs ; whereas a hare, skin and body, could be purchased 

 in the market at Carhaix for fourteen sous, about two-thirds of a 



