Wild Stag Hunting in France 295 



between the bloodhound and the greyhound, or possibly the 

 greyhound was in some cases used as the sire. At any rate, 

 they resemble the greyhound in conformation quite as much, if 

 not more, than they do the bloodhound. They are even more 

 intelligent-looking than the average Enghsh foxhound. Even 

 the celebrated Grafton or Pytchley hounds in England that 

 are noted for most musical tongues are not to be compared 

 with this pack of French hounds for music. 



The stag, in this particular chase, kept twisting and doub- 

 ling his track, not going more than a mile in any one direction, 

 until finally, as is customary, he took to water (a small pond 

 of some twenty or tliirty acres) . 



The shores for the most part were fringed with cat-tails, 

 marsh grass and flags. What a sight it was! ISIy pen seems 

 entirely unable to describe the scene. The stag was quite fresh 

 when he entered the pond; the hounds, however, were right at 

 his heels, and twenty-five couples went plunging over the bank 

 — a drop of three or four feet — in the most fearless style that 

 can be imagined ; all giving tongue, and the lot of them swim- 

 ming as fast as possible after their game. Their music, as I 

 have said, was uncommonly melodious when on the land, but 

 out on the water it was even more so, and there was plenty 

 of it. Across the pond the stag takes to a patch of thick grow- 

 ing rushes, which close in behind him, and shut out the hounds 

 as they are unable to touch their feet on the bottom or penetrate 

 the maze by swimming. They finally go ashore in open water. 

 The stag, meanwliile, is hidden in the rushes. The hounds are 

 now sent in from shore, the huntsman wading through the break 

 to encourage them on. In ten or fifteen minutes, out goes 

 the stag into the pond again, the hounds standing on the shore 

 plunge in after him, and once more the "heavenly music" fills 

 valley, hill and forest for miles around. Forward and back, 

 up and down the pond swims the deer, with the same stately air 

 and majestic carriage of the head as he had on land, and 



