230 SPORTING IN rfOTH HEMISPHERES. 



then began a history of the particular wine we were drink- 

 ing, and related a series of vinous and shooting anecdotes, 

 that generally lasted until the finale of the second bottle, 

 and, as far as I was concerned, a very comfortable perception 

 of its effects. 



The chasse, however, was the great object of his ambition, 

 and the solace of his hours throughout the long and dreary 

 days of winter ; and I verily believe if he had never killed a 

 head of game, he would have been equally amused with the 

 details. 



As I accompanied him in most of his expeditions, I shall 

 give a short description of our modus operandi. He rented 

 no shooting in the open country, but a large extent of wood, 

 land, or forest, a few miles distant from the town, and in 

 the centre of which was situated an ancient convent. The 

 only game that frequented these woods were hares, and those 

 very scarce in number, with perhaps now and then a fox, or 

 a few woodcocks. We started early in the morning, in a 

 heavy vehicle, of the gig genus, and a horse, with our guns 



and three dogs, or as M called them, chiens de chasse 



one was a half-bred harrier, the other an antique beagle, 

 and the third a mixture of the two. On arriving at a cot- 

 tage where the garde resided, and which was situated near 

 the woods we were about to beat, we left our voiture, and 

 proceeded on foot to our destination. 



Upon entering the woods, the dogs were slipped, whilst 

 we anxiously awaited a proclamation from their throats that 

 a hare was on foot. When this occurred, and we considered 

 they were sounds we could depend upon, we placed ourselves 

 in such positions as to wind, &c., as we thought most favour- 

 able to the chance of getting a shot at poor puss in her flight 

 before the dogs, and sometimes succeeded in bagging two or 

 three hares, which was a tremendous day's sport one was 

 our usual complement, and we met with many blank days. 



