THE EMPIRE AND THE REPUBLIC 265 



hounds came from M. de I'Aigle's pack, but most of them 

 were draft hounds got together in a hurry from England ; and 

 entered draft hounds which go to France are sometimes not 

 good enough to earn their keep in their own country. 



As far as I remember, I think the hounds were wanting 

 in music, but the men did their best to make up for the 

 deficiency. There was one particular piqueur whom Isidore 

 held in high esteem, and who was much admired for the 

 stirring way in which he could wind his horn at full gallop. 

 On such occasions, M. Eugene, as Isidore and I always called 

 him (of course we never dared speak to him), would come 

 through the horsemen and carriages in a crowded carrefour 

 standing up in his stirrups, and leaning over to the off side 

 until the bell of his horn was on the level of his right stirrup. 

 I think M. Eugene seldom knew where he was going, but 

 w^e all used to gallop after him. ' Benclez la mam, Monsieur 

 "^Thomas ; voild M. Eugene qui sonne,' Isidore used to say, 

 getting his own horse well on the bit nd giving him the 

 full benefit of a muscular calf. 



However, I must now relate my more recent experiences, 

 and say something about the hounds, the horses, and the 

 men I hunted with last November, and the country they 

 hunt. 



The Channel was kind, and after travelling all night I 

 arrived at Laversine, a dehghtful destination, in comfortable 

 time to devote proper and particular attention to the cere- 

 monies of boots and breeches. Now for what I saw and 

 noticed and did. 



As compared with those of most travellers and sportsmen 

 my adventures were insignificant. But I was lucky. In 

 these large forests it is not often that a stag will face the 

 open, but the day I hunted at Halatte and the day I hunted 

 at Fontainebleau we got out. This is, of course, a matter of 

 general congratulation, and everybody sits down to ride with 



