THE CHASSE IN PRUSSIA. 291 



Returning to the spot where I had fired at hazard, he 

 searched the ground for any traces that might remain, and, 

 after a careful examination of the dead leaves that were 

 spread around, had not advanced above fifty paces when, 

 with a keen intensity of vision, which none but a forest 

 jagher could possess, he pointed out a small speck of blood 

 upon a leaf. No doubt the animal was wounded. We 

 followed upon the track, guided only by these slight indica- 

 tions, which re-appeared from time to time; but soon an 

 impenetrable thicket presented itself, and the evening was 

 closing in. What was to be done ? Another keeper pro- 

 posed, as- a last resource, to return to the lodge, and bring 

 back two pointers to search for poor " Bellernent." The 

 experiment was successful, and they soon discovered their 

 lost companion, who was seated on the ground, close to the 

 wounded marcassin. The latter, seeing the reinforcement 

 that had arrived, managed to scramble upon his legs again r 

 and make his way through the thicket. " Bellement" did the 

 same, and the keepers informed me that they could observe 

 them, at some distance further, stretched upon the ground 

 together, more like two friends who had been travelling in 

 company than mortal enemies. The night obliged us to beat a 

 retreat, and to return with the two pointers. " Bellement/' 

 however, remained game to the last, and did not come back 

 to the lodge until the following morning nor, indeed, until 

 the wounded animal had, as it were, breathed the last sigh in 

 his arms, for the next day the body of the marcassin was 

 found, pierced with a ball through the loins. 



After this short preface I might conscientiously relate 

 other adventures of the same kind, such as ariother wild- 

 boar killed at bay, a stag brought down from a char-a-banc, 

 or a day's sport, which consisted of four foxes, twenty hares, 

 and nine roedeer, but had rather proceed to another description 

 of shooting in Prussia on which I have not hitherto touched. 



