140 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



him dogs, piqueurs, and cavaliers, as was the case two 

 months previously, the hounds lose the scent, and the animal 

 disappears as if by magic. 



The prince orders it to be proclaimed, and a notice to be 

 affixed at the doors of the churches for twenty-five leagues 

 round, that he will grant a pecuniary recompense to any one 

 that will bring him tidings of the stag. 



Three days afterwards a number of peasants arrive to 

 report all they know at the chateau. 



" Monseigneur, I come from Yic, a village on the other 

 side of the Aisne ; the day before yesterday, about three 

 o'clock, I was returning from Cournent, which is on this side 

 of the river, and about three hundred paces distant I saw 

 a stag in the act of swimming across; he was just taking 

 the water." 



" Two louis for this man," said the prince. 



" I, Monseigneur, come from a greater distance ; I am a 

 native of Mainbresson ; two days ago, whilst returning 

 through the fields in the evening, I saw a stag, and a very 

 old one, entering the wood of Ribaumar; as there are 

 generally no deer in those woods, I am very much mistaken 

 if it was not the animal -which Monseigneur alludes to." 



" Four louis for this man," cried the prince, with evident 

 marks of satisfaction. 



" I, Monseigneur, live still farther off; I inhabit a cottage 

 that stands by itself on the road to Rocroy ; at two hundred 

 paces from thence there is a small orchard. The other night 

 by the light of the full moon I was at my window about 

 twelve o'clock, and distinctly observed an immense stag 

 munching away at my apples. I had scarcely opened the 

 door, when, to my regret, the thief had departed, leaving a 

 long track in the grass behind him, for you see, Monseigneur, 

 I had stopped to fetch a large stick to drive him away. If 

 this is not the stag in question, it is some marauder from the 



