THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 261 



pearance at the chateau, Monsieur de 



G had determined upon sending the 



restive brute down to the village Vulcan, 

 who, in addition to his vocation of black- 

 smith, was what is termed in Brittany a 

 sorcier, and who possessed a kind of 

 charm in the way of whispering to horses. 

 This gift has been attributed to the 

 Irish as well as the French, but I believe 

 the faculty is not confined to Ireland 

 and France, but is common in various 

 forms to many other countries. Every 

 one has heard of the Laplander's habit 

 of whispering in the ears of his rein- 

 deer ; and in various parts of Brittany 

 several of these whisperers are to be 

 met wdth, whose success is invariable 

 and infallible. 



I can here speak from experience, and 

 had an opportunity of seeing the skill of 

 the sorcier put to the proof. Captain 

 P — — after an hour's fruitless endea- 



