A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 209 



We had not proceeded a hundred paces when 

 we heard another and another. Presently the 

 firing ceased, and we could plainly distinguish 

 cries for help. We made our way as fast as we 

 could through the thick and tangled brushwood, 

 and soon came on the spot where the sounds 

 proceeded from. 



Ensconced in a tree was our small friend ; he 

 had been thrown from his nag, and had wan- 

 dered about till nightfall, when failing to find 

 his way out of the large forest, and remember- 

 ing the wonderful stories that had been told 

 him, and which, by-the-by, we had not for- 

 gotten to embellish with additions of our own, 

 he had mounted the tree in which we found 

 him, and fired signals of distress till his flask 

 was emptied. 



We soon had him chez nous, and he attacked 

 the eatables and drinkables in a way wonder- 

 ful to behold. 



Notwithstanding the unceasing chaff he had 

 to put up with, nothing seemed to bisquer 

 him, for he very contentedly sat down to 

 his grog and his pipe, and said, "If he could 



only have unslung his gun when that d d 



14 



