THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 31 



The hounds by this time had reached 

 my stand, and were running breast high ; 

 checking them was out of the question, 

 so I desired ColHns to run on with them 



at his best pace as far as Mr. W 's 



post, where he would find the object of his 

 pursuit, as dead as he could possibly wish 

 him, at the edge of the covert. Captain 



G , with two of our French allies, now 



came up, and from them I learnt that on 

 the occasion of the extraordinary delay I 

 have before alluded to, two of the hounds 

 had been ripped up by a boar wounded 

 by Captain G . 



He had turned the animal over, and 

 the hounds, heedless of the consequences, 

 had advanced within reach of his formi- 

 dable tusks, and two had paid the penalty 

 of their rashness ; one was already dead, 

 and the other past all hope of recovery. 

 Unfortunately, Collins, with Boxer at his 



