A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 201 



were driving along. The front part Lad a lea- 

 ther hood the whole width of the van for the 

 driver, for whom a good stuffed mattress made 

 a capital bed ; and with the waterproof curtains 

 drawn and buttoned tight, he said he had never 

 a more comfortable perch in his life. For the 

 Breton lad we took with us, we contrived a nest 

 under the tent in the stable, but he found his 

 way into the tray with the dogs, one end of 

 which he appropriated to himself, and declared 

 it was " un palais magnifique" 



The whole concern van, carriage to France, 

 alterations made there, beds, tents, stoves, 

 painting, a set of second-hand strong harness 

 from London, cost us 43. 



I must say the arrangement was perfect, 

 and no Bohemian gipsy travelled more com- 

 fortably than we did. All our glasses were 

 arranged in holes as in ships ; under the sofas 

 were our cellars, and we had besides a capital 

 stock of soups, oysters, and lobsters, in tins, so 

 that we could open one, warm it up, and have 

 it ready in a few minutes. Obtaining no end 

 of letters of introduction from our French ac- 

 quaintances to their friends in all parts of Lower 



