THE WILD BOAR. 93 



As this side of the camp was exactly opposite the woods, 

 one hour after my arrival, I eluded the watchfulness of the 

 sentinel, and passing out to the forest, found several fields 

 covered with beans, where apparently the wild boars held 

 nightly revels. 



On re-entering the camp, I related my discovery to my com- 

 rade Rousselet, a cunning old war-dog, who feared nothing, and 

 passionately loved hunting, especially at night, after the man- 

 ner of the Arabs ; probably because there was more hazard in 

 it then than at other times. Rousselet heard my proposition 

 with joy, and undertook to reconnoitre the least guarded place 

 in the rampart, by which we could descend without break- 

 ing our necks. 



About nine o'clock in the evening, we proceeded towards 

 what my friend called the staircase, accompanied by another 

 of the men whom we had taken in our confidence, and who was 

 to amuse the sentry while we were occupied with our flight. 



Everything succeeded admirably, and without worrying our- 

 selves for means of returning, we dropped into the ditch, and 

 as soon as we were in the open country, we proceeded to load 

 our arms, which consisted of the regulation gun and pistol, 

 and arrange in the most commodious manner possible, our 

 other weapons, a cavalry sabre and a little hatchet of my 

 comrade's, with a something between a bayonet and a hunt- 

 ing knife of my own. 



These preparations completed, we entered the wood. 



When we arrived near the field frequented by the wild 

 hogs, these gentlemen, who had not expected us, scampered 

 off in hot haste. As they had never been hunted, we did not, 



