THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 7 



readiness, and even then some further time 

 elapsed in making each aspirant clearly 

 understand the instructions by which he 

 was to abide. The guide had so clearly 

 described the several intersections of the 

 grande allee, and the numerous paths bi- 

 secting the wood, that no mistake oc- 

 curred. 



I had pre-determined that my fellow- 

 countrymen should occupy the stations 

 on my right and left, as I calculated there 

 would be less chance of my receiving a 

 bullet by mistake, than if any of the 

 eager, rash, and excitable Frenchmen 

 were in my immediate neighbourhood. 

 Your mercurial Gaul has not the slight- 

 est command over himself for the moment, 

 and he can no more help firing at a bird, 

 hare, or rabbit, even if his bosom friend 

 be in a direct line with it, than he can 

 help dancing when he hears a fiddle. 

 Frenchmen are delightful companions 



