284 WOLF-HUNTING. 



from the contents it revealed, looked far more like a butcher's 

 shop than an ordinary larder ; for there, suspended by hooks to 

 a cross-beam, hung a calf and two little sheep newly flayed, the 

 hind quarters of a bullock, and a couple of heads of wild boar 

 recently killed in the forest of Kilvern by Kergoorlas' and 

 St. Prix's hounds. , 



" Provision for a month at least," observed Keryfan, " and no 

 fear of short allowance even for a longer period, provided the 

 .garrison counts, as it now does, but five heads." 



"Add five-and-twenty to that number, and you will be nearer 

 the mark," said Shafto ; " for every hound will have his black 

 bread moistened with good broth out of that stock. Annette 

 is a rare kennel-feeder, and would help a favourite hound to the 

 first cut out of a leg of mutton sooner than see him stinted in 

 his food." 



During this time a lively conversation was going on between 

 Owen Mawr, Annette, and the charcoal-burner, whose ponies, 

 already well fed, stood with their heads close to the porte-cochere, 

 as if eager to be off on their homeward route. But there 

 was a hitch somewhere ; and, from the ominous expression 

 of the charcoal-burner's face, who ever and anon looked upwards 

 with alarm, shaking, as he did so, an avalanche of snow from 

 his broad-brimmed hat, it was evident that- he was not so 

 ready as his beasts were to turn his back on the hospitality and 

 safe shelter afforded by the Hermitage. " It's only three leagues 

 off, I tell thee ; not a metre more," said Owen Mawr and Annette 

 in the same breath, bent, as they had welcomed him, to " speed 

 the parting guest " to the utmost of their power. But the guest, 

 like the Squire of the pad in the old ballad, who 



' ' Often took leave, but was loth to depart, " 

 still lingered on the threshold, urging that night was at hand, and 



