116 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



other animals, and the mode of sporting pursued here was 

 by what was termed houralliers that is, by driving the game 

 towards the shooters, who were placed in ambuscade at 

 different points of the woods by means of small running 

 dogs called hourets, and beaters from the villages. The 

 periods when this description of sport was carried on at 

 Marly were grand fete days for all the neighbouring villages ; 

 but it was at Noisy that it was a great sight to witness the 

 peasantry dressed in their gayest, holiday garments when the 

 news arrived that a hourallier was to take place. The poor 

 and hungry well knew that they should have plenty of food 

 on that day. The officer charged with collecting the beaters 

 found them all assembled in numerous troops, and had only 

 to direct them to their posts, when the joyous bands spread 

 themselves over the different sections and quarters of the 

 forest. Many of them took advantage of the occasion to 

 make themselves acquainted with the haunts and localities 

 of the different sorts of game, a knowledge which they after- 

 wards turned to their own interests, being desperate poachers, 

 and carried on their calling, at the king's expense, in a 

 certain systematic manner that placed all the surveillance of 

 the keepers at defiance. One of the most celebrated of 

 these poachers was Simon 1' Archer. 



" Few among the royal suite that did not know Simon 

 1' Archer Simon 1' Archer, with his straight red hair, his 

 grey and piercing eyes, and whose reputation as a vagabond, 

 yet admirable shot, was known for ten leagues around. He 

 had only one rival, Barbier, surnamed Lapellette, the poach- 

 ing celebrity of the village of 1'Etang, who had originated a 

 rather facetious sporting parody. He had formed a little 

 troop or band of his own, and during their illicit excursions 

 he styled himself M. le Compte de Girardin; and an indi- 

 vidual named Favro (his first lieutenant) he called le Compte 

 St. Projet. But to return to Simon 1' Archer. 



