HAVRE BY DAY. 19 



tar who had taken such a fancy to Nipper ; and then, 

 one by one, with the rest of the passengers, we were 

 drafted up the ladder, — boxes, trunks, and parcels 

 huddled into the custom-house together. 



It was of the utmost moment to me to catch the 

 very first train to Paris. If I failed in doing so, I 

 should not arrive in that city till ten at night, when 

 it would have been difficult to have obtained food and 

 safe accommodation for my dogs. In order to facili- 

 tate my passage through the custom-house, I had 

 written to the chief of that department to apprise 

 him of my advent, and to describe the apparent bulki- 

 ness of my luggage, its nature, and my design as to 

 the first train. I must say that from all the officials 

 that morning I met with the civilest attention ; and 

 they gave me as little trouble as possible, till the atten- 

 dant custom-house porter lifted my three gun-cases, 

 which were bound together. He poised them doubt- 

 fully in his arms, looked suspiciously at his superiors 

 in a sort of pulpit, and having gained their attention, 

 he asked me what the package was. 



" Three fusees." 



" What else ? " 



" Nothing, save their necessary sporting accompani- 

 ments." 



He shook his head still dissatisfied ; when, having 



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