288 WOLF-HUNTING. 



search of the man, by order of the chief officer commanding 

 that force. 



A whole week had elapsed with a similar result no news of 

 the charcoal-burner during which time the conscience-smitten 

 alarm of Annette and the misgivings of her husband would have 

 been painful to witness, if Shafto's faith and argument had not 

 assured us that in all probability neither the man nor his ponies 

 had been attacked at all. " For," said he, " I looked at my 

 watch when Annette fired off the gun it was then three o'clock ; 

 and as the wolves of the neighbouring forest, attracted by the 

 fresh meat, certainly passed the livelong night under our walls, 

 it is quite clear that they, at least, could have had nothing to 

 do with the charcoal-burner's disappearance after he quitted our 

 gates. To rny mind, the long serenade they gave us is a sufficient 

 alibi in their favour to acquit them of this charge." 



On the seventh day after that memorable night Shafto, by 

 St. Prix's especial request, had taken his hounds to the forest 

 of Glomel, to kill, if possible, a wolf that had been doing great 

 damage to the cattle of the Count de Saisy's tenants. This 

 forest lay due east of the Hermitage, near Rostrenen, on the 

 northern slope of the Black Mountains \ and although, from one 

 point to the other, the distance could not have been less than 

 four leagues, we found ourselves men, horses, and hounds at 

 the cover-side at half-past eight o'clock, soon after the break of 

 day. There was still a thin layer of snow covering the earth, 

 so the piqueurs did their work with little difficulty, bringing back 

 a goodly list of the rough game that had gone into lair during 

 the night, namely, badger, fox, chevreuil, and one old wolf the 

 latter, from his broad splay fleet and long claws, being, without 

 a doubt, the culprit on whose doom we were bent. Accordingly, 

 by the help of the snow and a couple of rare tufters, we soon 

 roused him from his slumber, and in less than half an hour six 

 couple more were hard at him, waking up the old woods with 



