Hunting in France 283 



the art of locating the game. The joy on his face as he 

 approaches his master, hat in hand, to inform him that he has 

 located the kennel of a wild boar is a pleasure to see. The 

 numerous hairbreadth escapes from death, and the ugly scars 

 he exhibits on his legs, the result of personal encounters with 

 infuriated boars, are something he may well smile at, as he 

 fondly does, when he feels liimself still alive and able to do duty 

 in spite of them. 



The forest where this grand display of wild boar hunting 

 takes place is well stocked with game, and contains many veter- 

 ans that are big, strong and wicked. This is owing principally 

 to the great abundance of beechnuts, acorns, and many other 

 kinds of food that make the >vild boars of the forest of Sen- 

 ouches attain a larger size than any others in France. They 

 are likewise the most courageous and desperate to encounter. 

 They are great travellers, covering from twenty to thirty, and 

 even fifty miles in a single night, so great is their natural dis- 

 position to roam. 



It is needless to say, it requires a lot of training in wood- 

 craft to outgeneral them, for when once on foot they have speed 

 surpassed only by the deer and the fastest horses and are 

 greatly superior to the former in endurance or staying quali- 

 ties. Twenty to thirty and even forty miles, is no uncommon 

 distance for a wild boar in the heyday of his vigour, to lead 

 the chase before he succumbs. 



It may be seen from this that the hounds to follow him must 

 be of the very best in speed and endurance. 



Not only does it require talent of the highest order in the 

 huntsman and hounds, the best in courage, speed, endurance, 

 and voice in the hound, but the blaster, who directs the attack 

 and plans the chase, must also possess as keen an instinct as his 

 huntsman, and boldness, as great as a general in command, for 

 his superior judgment must decide for both. 



^ladame la Baronne de Dorlodot always follows the chase 



