20 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



said something to the men in the pulpit, they civilly 

 requested me to disclose the contents. 



" Oh ! my train, my train," I groaned to myself as 

 I undid the guns and cast an eye over the ten other 

 packages lying uncorded over the floor, and heard 

 the impatient whine of Malwood outside. " Then," 

 I cried, " look, and believe your own eyes ; " and 

 puzzled very much the eyes of some of them were 

 with the long-range heavy green cartridges. 



*' Cartouche," they said taking one up, " poudre et 

 balle ? " 



"Non; shot," I replied, enjoying their mystification; 

 when I was obliged to interrupt the speculations of a 

 soldier who stood by, deeply interested in the contents 

 of the gun-cases, and hastened to repack all my things. 

 Reader, if you desire speed, as well as the retention of 

 temper, and you travel in France, on no account cord 

 your luggage. 



At last I got everything passed, well pleased with 

 the uniform civility of the officials ; and then for- 

 gathering with a " touter " for one of the hotels, who 

 no doubt had made England too hot to hold him, 

 and who therefore spoke French very well, I declined 

 his civil proposition of being my courier while I re- 

 mained in France, and only hired him to assist me 

 with a cab and his attention as far as the railway- 



