THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 27 



at a chevreuil which bounded past me at 

 the moment. T was a httle ruffled at this, 

 as may be imagined, and consoled myself 



by d g the inquisitive fellow, and 



blaming him of course for causing the 

 mishap. 



My rage was not of long duration, for 

 before half my ire had found vent, another 

 splendid chevreuil bolted out of the thicket 

 about fifty yards above my stand, and 

 landed in the middle of the grande allee. 

 He seemed undetermined at first which 

 way to turn ; but to my immeasurable 

 satisfaction, he decided upon facing to 

 the right. The utmost caution was now 

 necessary, for the slightest movement 

 on my part, or that of my companions, 

 would have marred everything — a whis- 

 per even, and our chevreuil was lost for 

 ever. 



I hardly ventured to breathe, it was a 

 moment of such intense anxiety. The 

 c 2 



