A HOLLOW BUSH. 77 



which was, as translated by M. d'Anchald, that it 

 was settled as perfectly certain, on the faitli of the 

 trusted limier, that there were neither wolves nor 

 wild boars anywhere in this part of the forest ; there- 

 fore, as M. Lucas permitted his hounds to hunt no- 

 thing but those animals, they would be sent home. 

 M. E. Brunier, however, being most kindly anxious 

 to afford me some sport, resolved to draw for a 

 roe-deer. 



While this conversation had been going on, I had 

 said to Jules d'Anchald, " Now, I will tell you what, 

 my dear fellow ; there is so much thick lying in these 

 woodlands, that, supposing you had them wild in 

 France, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotami, giraffes, 

 elands, lions, tigers, leopards, ourang-outangs, wolves, 

 and boars, might at this moment be lying within a few 

 hundred yards of us, winking at us with thumbs, if 

 they had them, to their noses, and in derision, for all 

 that huntsman and his two old useless hounds would 

 know of the matter. Now, then, get the seven or 

 eight hounds we have, uncoupled, and we'll soon have 

 up something ! " 



This was done ; and reader ! will you believe me, 

 we had not commenced drawing five minutes, and 

 had not got three hundred yards from where it was 

 pronounced, on the faith of the huntsman and the 



