28 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



beautiful animal stopped once before he 

 reached the narrow path, (at the head of 

 which I was 'posted,) listening to the fast 

 approaching pack. The littel deer, as my 

 French friend at Rennes would have said, 

 was not long inactive — one bound and 

 he was abreast of me, and making down 

 the riding towards Mr. W. I was lucky 

 enough to get a good aim, and having 

 had plenty of time to shake off any symp- 

 tom bordering on the nervous, it proved 

 to be unerring. I sent a bullet just be- 

 hind the shoulder, which stopped his ca- 

 reer — he gave one spring upwards, and 

 fell dead on the instant — I had shot him 

 through the heart. 



The garde de chasse ran to the spot 

 with the laudable intention of dragging 

 the noble roebuck to our stand ; but he 

 little dreamt of the interruption which 

 w^as awaiting him. I have said that the 

 pack was nearing us before I brought 



