446 The Hunting Grounds 



portmanteaus, carnp-beds, and other divers - shaped 

 packages, among which gun-cases appeared to pre- 

 dominate. Some of the bystanders, more curious 

 than the rest, scrutinised the directions and labels on 

 the boxes, and expressed their astonishment on seeing 

 on each a lion and the words, " Algerian Sporting 

 Expedition, Philippeville, Algeria, vid Paris and 

 Marseilles." 



When the traps were all arranged, a number of 

 gentlemen entered the cabs, and the word being 

 given, " To the London-bridge railway station," 

 away they drove, and the explorers of the new 

 hunting grounds were fairly started. After a short 

 consultation with a very civil superintendent, tickets 

 were taken to Paris, vid Newhaven and Dieppe, and 

 the baggage registered throughout, so as not to be 

 subject to any troublesome inspection from either 

 custom-house officers or gendarmes, until arrival at 

 its destination. 



At 6 P.M. we took our places in the carriages, the 

 signal whistle was heard, the engine gave a responsive 

 grunt, and we had begun our journey to Algeria. 



At half-past 8 we arrived at Newhaven, and 

 put up at the London and Paris Hotel, where we 

 found the people not the most civil in the world, and 

 the sheets of our beds unquestionably damp. The 

 refreshments were very so-so, but we found the 

 charges extremely moderate. 



