254 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



the test like my sterling friend. There 

 are not many " Archer Crofts" now-a- 

 days. 



The meadows and marshes between the 

 city of Caen and the sea abound with 

 snipe ; and as Mr. Croft and myself were 

 enthusiastically fond of this description 

 of shooting, we were oftener to be found 

 in the swamp than our own homes. 



It came to pass that on a certain day, 

 and being in the meadows, my com- 

 panion, not having the fear of a proces 

 verbal before his eyes, incontinently in- 

 vaded the sacred precincts of a neighbour- 

 ing wood. We had not long trespassed 

 on (as we afterwards learned) the for- 

 bidden ground, ere w^e saw a tall, lanky, 

 hairy-faced, Ian thorn -jawed garde de chasse 

 making towards us with rapid strides, and 

 apparently in about as amiable a humour 

 as a rabid bull. He was armed to the 

 teeth, his double-barrelled gun being 



