WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 309 



from beyond the seas, he resolved on having a day's sport with 

 it, and thus gave his orders " Shut 'un up in the barn, John, 

 for the night, and then/' said he, "us'll turn him out before the 

 hounds in the morning." 



The schoolmaster at this period had evidently not penetrated 

 into that district. But to return to the sport. In the absence 

 of a terrier it was found impossible for some time to bolt the 

 cat, till at length Keryfan hit upon a plan which, with a few 

 strokes of the hatchet, did the work most effectually. The alder 

 being supported on the opposite bank by one of its limbs only, 

 and that not a very bulky one, it was evident, if this prop was 

 cut away, that the weight of the tree would bring it bodily to 

 the ground, and, by tearing up the roots, would expose the cat 

 to the open attack of the hounds. Accordingly, a few vigorous 

 strokes severed the propping limb, and, instantly following, down 

 came the mighty tree level with the waters ; at the same moment 

 out shot the cat, like a scared fiend, and, plunging into the 

 brook, attempted to gain the opposite bank. But its efforts 

 were vain : the hounds were on it, and in the space of two 

 minutes the stripy wild beast, than which I scarcely ever saw a 

 handsomer, was torn into " a hundred tatters of brown." 



That night we had the company of a French gentleman at 

 the Hermitage, who loudly deplored the waste committed by the 

 loss of the skin and body of the cat. " I can understand your 

 regretting the loss of the skin," I said, " because you turn all 

 skins so adroitly to account in your country, but am puzzled to 

 know what use you would have made of the body." 



" Puzzled ? " he replied, as if wondering at my simplicity. 

 " Well, sir, it would have made a delicious ragoAt, and with far 

 more flavour than that of the finest wild rabbit." 



" What ! eat a cat ? " I ejaculated, with an air of disgust 

 which, I fear, I took no pains to conceal. 



" Yes," he said ; " I have shot and eaten many, and would 



