REMINISCENCES OP THE LEWS. 253 



diately I looked down Aimee's barrels, loaded, 

 one with buck-shot, the other with two balls ! 

 Grimaldi never threw a back somersault quicker 

 than I did into the wood, as I felt a most 

 uncomfortable whistling of all sorts of things 

 just over the spot I had so hastily left. Though 

 I heard the hounds coming very close, I did 

 not move for a second or two, expecting 

 Aimee's second barrel, both of which, however, 

 had gone at once. I jumped up in time, not 

 to see, but to hear, something disappear in the 

 thick wood on the opposite side of the alley, 

 after which I fired. Presently the hounds ap- 

 peared, and crossed, and, immediately after 

 them, Carabine. I was interrogated, but could 

 give no account of what had passed. It might 

 have been the Wild Huntsman, for aught I 

 know. The rest of the party congregated 

 immediately. Aimee was blown up for firing at 

 the poor little calf, which, of course, he had 

 missed, and nearly bagged me. But, oh, dear ! 

 how they pitched into and laughed at me ! 

 " L' Anglais ! TAnglais ! to have left his place 

 just as the beast was breaking, and not to know 

 even what it was ! " Carabine scowled at me, 

 the General was ashamed of me, the young 

 dragoons chaffed me till I felt inclined to fight 

 them all round. 



