112 SPORTING LN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



intricacies of the forest, much to the amusement of several 

 French sportsmen who had observed my proceedings, and 

 considered, no doubt, that it was the usual method of con- 

 trolling a runaway horse in an English hunting-field; indeed, 

 before the end of the day, I had the pleasure of observing one 

 or two of them follow my example, whose horses happened to 

 be hard pullers and had fatigued the arms of their masters, 

 who almost invariably held their hands high. It may be easily 

 imagined that on one of the hottest days of the month of 

 July the scent was not remarkably good, and that the run, 

 through underwood and forest nearly the whole of the time, 

 was protracted for a long period, even in spite of the fresh 

 relays of hounds that were frequently uncoupled. Three 

 hours had elapsed since the stag was found, and I was 

 streaming with perspiration, not only owing to the heat of 

 the day, but from the labour and difficulty I experienced in 

 guiding my impracticable steed. At length I was told that 

 the deer was making for a large piece of water not far 

 distant, and towards which we accordingly turned our 

 horses' heads. The approaching sounds of the music of the 

 pack, and the horns of the piqueurs, proved that our informa- 

 tion was correct, and the first object that struck my vision 

 on arriving within sight of the etang was the stag nobly 

 breasting the waves, followed by the hounds, which were 

 swimming after him. 



George Templar stood on the bank, mopping his head and 

 good-humoured countenance, which the sun and exercise 

 had tinged with the deepest vermilion, and giving the 

 death halloo with a true British sportsman's intonation, 

 perfectly regardless of all the etiquette of a royal chasse, and 

 evidently totally pre-occupied with the scene before him. 

 Presently the Duke and his suite, with all the train of 

 followers and piqueurs, rode up through one of the avenues, 

 and Monseigneur was anxious to be informed who was the 



