3 1 o WOLF-HUNTING. 



strongly recommend you to try the next you kill ; but, of course,, 

 you should cut off the head first, and then hang up the carcase 

 in a fig-tree to mellow and make it tender." 



Here, then, was the very trite motto, " Chacnn a son gout? 

 exemplified to the letter ; and although at first I thought he was 

 hoaxing me, I had afterwards ample proof that his statement was 

 nothing more nor less than the naked truth. 



Shafto, by his long residence among the French, had himself 

 become an accomplished cook, and, with Annette for his scullery- 

 maid, could manufacture various dishes, and especially soups, 

 with consummate art and proficiency. The latter, so far as I 

 am able to judge, is usually a less generous mixture among our 

 neighbours on that side of the channel, probably because our meat 

 is better, and less water is used in its composition. Shafto, 

 however, had a method in the concoction of soup which rendered 

 it unrivalled in strength and flavour by any I have ever tasted 

 at home or abroad. His plan was simply this for the week 

 round : A vast earthenware pot-au-feu stood simmering among 

 the embers of his wood-fire from morning to night and night to 

 morning, and was thus supplied, day after day, with the stock 

 and materials needful for producing and replenishing its contents. 

 On Monday, a shin of beef, say iolbs., simmered gently all day 

 in a gallon and a-half of water, Annette taking care to keep it 

 well skimmed, and about an hour before dinner adding the usual 

 vegetables. 



On Tuesday, the vegetables being carefully extracted by 

 means of a colander, a brace of uncooked partridge and a little 

 fresh water were popped in to the beef, and the whole left to 

 simmer and amalgamate as on the day before. 



On Wednesday, another brace of birds, roasted brown, with 

 water if required, were added to the pol-au-feu. On Thursday, 

 the character of the mixture was altogether changed by the 

 addition of a couple of woodcock or half-a-dozen snipe, which, 



