100 THE LION KILLER. 



horse which a clumsy hand has not been able to turn in time. 

 I have been in this kind of hunt with both French and 

 Arabs, and have remarked that the latter always carry off 

 the palm. 



It is not that they are better marksmen than ourselves, for 

 I am convinced of the contrary ; but it is because we pay a 

 little too much attention to the horse during the hunt, while 

 the Arabs forget it entirely, and load and fire as if on 

 foot. 



I ought to mention, however, that there are some officers 

 in Africa who can rank with . the most skillful and boldest 

 Arab horsemen. Among those whom I have had the honor 

 of knowing, and who are still in Algeria, I name the Generals 

 Mac Mahon, Yusuf, and d'Autemarre ; Dubos, commander of 

 the Zouaves ; the Captains Borrel and Sompt, of the staff ; 

 Captain de Bonnemain, of the spahis of Constantine; and 

 Captain Marguerite, of^ the spahis of Algeria, with whom T 

 have not the honor of a personal acquaintance, but whose 

 reputation in hunting and coursing, is known by all the 

 votaries of Saint Hubert in Algeria. 



It is impossible to give a complete description of the many 

 hunts had by these masters of the chase ; they are number- 

 less, and I do not fear to say, that they have killed several 

 thousand boars. 



Spring is equally good for another kind of hunting in the 

 plain, and to me, a more amusing one than the preced- 

 ing. 



At this time of the year, the wild hog leaves the woods 



