72 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



tered boar after the most approved fa- 

 shion, and bring him to the chateau on 

 the shoulders of the followers, we, who 

 were in at the death, cantered home- 

 wards, and in our way met with a dozen 

 or two of the stragglers who had got up 

 a very tolerable imitation of making 

 their way to the scene of action. 



We learnt from these gentlemen that 

 some had returned to the chateau, (espe- 

 cially those who had been soused in the 

 ditch,) and that others were endeavour- 

 ing to catch the dogs. 



Upon the whole, therefore, I should say 

 that the glorious anticipations of these 

 would-be sportsmen had not been re- 

 alized, and that to them the hunt was a de- 

 cided failure. I could have predicted the 

 same result, — to the majority at least, — 

 but I make it a rule to let people take 

 their fling to the top of their bent. 



As far as we were concerned,—-! mean 



