THE WILD BOAR. 101 



very early, in order to seek for pasture and water together, 

 where lie will remain until daybreak. 



The hunters, who know beforehand the time of the return 

 of the animal, send skirmishers to the borders of the wood ; 

 as soon as several black spots are perceived in the plain, 

 everybody is an action, and each one manoeuvres to keep the 

 animals from cover, and prevent them breaking through the 

 line formed by the horsemen. 



A company of boars attacked in this manner, are almost 

 always entirely massacred ; and these kind of hunts are so 

 productive that, when the game is to be carried away, it is 

 necessary to send several wagons to transport them. 



This appears to me the most agreeable manner of hunting 

 the boar for real amateurs. In order to hunt them in the 

 swamps, the morning dew must evaporate, or it would quench 

 the fire in the reeds, and the hunters, have to suffer much 

 from the midday heat. 



The chase in the woods must be directed by a skilful 

 leader, and one who knows the country, or it will be without 

 result ; and it is always dangerous on account of the fall of 

 horses and men among the brush and fallen timber which 

 at every moment present insurmountable obstacles to the 

 best horses and riders. 



The reasons why I prefer the kind of hunt above-mentioned 

 which I call, la chasse au rembucher, are the following : first, 

 the hour of the day so much liked by all European hunters, 

 who call it the hour between the dog and wolf, and the Arabs, 

 between the dog and jackal, is full of charms and softening 



