54 BEITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



superior to most of them. Bad eau-de-vie and black bread, 

 and most of all bad beds. For the sportsman can live hard 

 if he can only sleep well : but a man must have uncom- 

 mon sleeping powers who can sleep well in a Breton 

 auberge ; he must be a hybernating hedgehog, or the Fat 

 Boy in Pickwick. For even if by chance you have a de- 

 cent bedj the bugs and fleas afb in such legions as nothing 

 but the hide of an armadillo can resist. One night I never 

 shall forget. I went to bed at nine, tasting sleep before- 

 hand by a pleasing drowsiness, which was soon to be con- 

 verted into a perfect slumber. I was speedily in bed, mid 

 almost as speedily out again, so warm was the reception. 

 From every wrinkle in the coverlid, and every straw in 

 the mattress, poured a stream of animals famished and 

 bloodthirsty, to take possession of the land of promise. 

 In vain I slaughtered hosts, immediately they were replaced 

 by others of equal or greater appetite ; and I was devoured 

 by inches. For two hours, by Shrewsbury clock, did the 

 battle rage, and on its slackening I began to doze. But it 

 was only a device of the enemy, and again the attack was 

 renewed. From the ceiling they dropped upon me ; from 

 the floor they escaladed me ; and all I coul.d do was to fight 

 hard to the last, and wish for the day, which slowly broke; 

 and the face of the rising sun was not more rosy than my 

 own. 



Ha^e hunting, or the chasse an courant, is a very slow 

 affair, quite different from the English mode. Greyhounds 

 are forbidden by law throughout all France ; and the dog 

 used is a sort of large beagle. These are taken to likely 

 spots, such as cross-roads, gateways, &c., and on taking 



