240 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



months occurred before the fishing season came in; but 

 being determined to remain and give the Kinzig a fair trial, 

 of which I had heard many contradictory accounts, I passed 

 my time as agreeably as I could between visits to objects 

 of interest in the neighbourhood, trips to Strasburg, and the 

 excellent cheer and pleasant society I met with at my friend 

 Pfaeler's. I had formed some very agreeable and useful 

 acquaintances, and met with much kindness and hospitality. 



The railway between Basle and Frankfort-sur-Maine was 

 completed, and formed an easy and agreeable mode of com- 

 munication between the many places of interest, such as 

 Baden-Baden, Carlsruhe, Manheim, Heidelberg, Darmstadt, 

 Frankfort, &c., and my head-quarters ; in fact, it was almost 

 impossible to have selected a more quiet and economical 

 residence, combined with every luxury and comfort, and 

 possessing more facilities for amusements of all kinds than 

 the one I had chosen. During the early part of my stay I 

 had formed an acquaintance with a very well-known and 

 peculiar character, who held the post of head forester over 

 an adjoining district, which was ripened during our fre- 

 quent meetings at the different shooting parties in the neigh- 

 bourhood, and ended in our becoming great friends. 



How shall I succeed in conveying anything like a correct 



description of my old friend, the Baron Henri von S , 



ober forst meister (or head forest master) to his Royal High- 

 ness the Grand Duke of Baden, with whom I have spent 

 many a pleasant day by " flood and field," smoked many a 

 social meerschaum, and quaffed many a flask of Rhenish? 

 Picture to yourself a man of middle height, of well-built, 

 broad, and muscular proportions, and fine aristocratic ex- 

 tremities, his countenance a true type of the ancient 

 fiaubritter, or robber knight a happy combination of jo- 

 viality and ferocity his hair close cut, and whiskers shaved, 

 but his moustachios I never yet saw equalled as hirsute 



