A SPOTTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 233 



drink Mr. Harry and all the others' escape, and 

 plenty of baccy." 



The morning saw us safely anchored at the Soli- 

 dore again. I persuaded my brother to lay up the 

 yacht for the winter in the Government yard, 

 for which I had got permission. He did so, and 

 a, few days after saw us again at our van. The 

 weather having broken up, we got leave to shoot 

 a tolerably large wood, about nine miles from 

 La, Hardouhnay. 



"We started early, taking my retriever. Di. 

 We were much pleased with the curious old 

 churches and crosses with which the country 

 abounds. They are most beautiful. In the 

 midst of this wood stood a splendid old ruined 

 chateau, which must once have been a princely 

 edifice. Its grandeur was, alas ! departed, and 

 only one or two rooms on the ground floor re- 

 mained habitable. All was in rank decay, and 

 recalled vividly to my memory Hood's beautiful 

 poem " The Haunted House." 



I had heard that in this chateau there was an 

 immense cellar of wine, so I asked the garde- 

 chasse if it was true. He replied that he did 

 not know for certainty ; that its present owner 



