60 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



The ancien garde du corps, who had 

 so obligingly lent me his best horse, in- 

 vited us to the manege^ where a leap- 

 ing-bar was erected, and over which he 

 advised his countrymen to practise them- 

 selves and their nags, previously to the 

 Monday. 



We had some very good fun here ; but 

 it is not for me to set down the number 

 of spills the gentlemen contrived to give 

 themselves, but will proceed at once to 

 relate the adventures of the much looked 

 for Monday. 



By day-break on the eventful morn, 

 all was bustle, animation, and excitement 

 in the streets ; the cavaliers had for 

 their rendezvous the front of our hotel ; 

 and the muster, altogether, was a very 

 respectable one. I had started Collins in 

 the morning, an hour before day-light, 

 with the pack and the bull-dogs ; he was 

 accompanied by the guides and gardes 

 de chasse, who had before attended us, 



