THE CHATEAU SAUVAGBS 39 



fireplace in the dining-room, I saw a very well-pre- 

 served old wolf's skin, gray and completely tawny 

 with age, as to which my friend, as a sort of season- 

 ing to our late (or rather early) repast that morning, 

 related to me the following legend: — 



This old wolf had been known for years in the forest 

 around the chateau, and had been frequently hunted, 

 and as often escaped. Once, when he was closely 

 pursued, M. d' Anchald viewed him run into the midst 

 of a flock of sheep, and, though he kept his eye on 

 the flock, he never saw the wolf leave it. On the 

 other sportsmen with the hounds coming up, they 

 surrounded and advanced on the sheep, supposing 

 that the wolf was hidden among them ; but, after the 

 most minute search the wolf could not be found, and 

 what was to them still more extraordinary, the hounds 

 could never hit upon him again. 



From what I have since seen of the French chase 

 and method of hunting, I could account for the latter 

 fact without the aid of one unearthly suspicion. So 

 often and so oddly had this old wolf eluded his pur- 

 suers, that people began to think that it was not a 

 wolf even in sheep's clothing, but a devil in a wolf's 

 skin, and, without some especial aid from St. Hubert, 

 the huntsmen despaired of a victory. Grown bolder 

 with age and impunity, and desperate too from infir- 



D 4 



