150 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



behind them in the sharp fresh air a cloud of smoke. 

 Here the plain suddenly broke off, and I found rny- 

 self facing a ruined wall, behind which there was a 

 sort of orchard. The whole band of hunters had 

 disappeared ; still I heard a great noise of voices 

 and the rustling of branches, whence I concluded 

 that the horses had leaped in a twinkling over 

 the ruined parts of the old wall. As I did not 

 feel capable of such a feat, I sought a by-road to 

 reach the scene of action. When I arrived the 

 fox had just been killed by the dogs, and the 

 death-cry of " Who-whoop ! " was being raised on 

 all sides. 



'The huntsman had dismounted. After cutting 

 off the brush, which is kept as an ornament, he 

 raised above his head the corpse of the animal, 

 which he held in both hands. At the sight of this 

 trophy applause and shouts of joy broke out among 

 the hunters, but it was very different with the dogs. 

 Assembled in a circle round the huntsman, they 

 made the air ring with the wildest barking. After 

 balancing the fox, the huntsman hurled it among 

 the dogs, who devoured it in an instant every one 

 wanted to have a share. The avidity which fox- 

 hounds display for the flesh of an animal which 

 belongs to their family (canis vulpes) is a matter 

 of surprise to naturalists. Perhaps they resemble 

 certain cannibals, who, without making man their 

 ordinary food, find, after battle, a delicious taste in 



