94 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



to tell us he is " dangerous," and who doesn't care to 

 quit the potatoes in the cottage gardens at the peasant's 

 bidding ! Hush — hark again ! the bay is all sullen 

 and angry now, and it loiters by the way. The boar 

 is as much for fighting as running, and the few hounds 

 that are up with him he over matches. Oh ! how 

 I ran ; but as I neared the place, the noise again 

 changed from a sort of half or walking bay to pursuit 

 and active chase. Again and again did a change 

 take place, and sometimes I seemed to head the cry, 

 and sometimes to " cheek" it. I crept into the wood 

 to meet it ; I lay down to escape observation and to 

 invite its approach ; I ran that warm day, in and 

 through that severe woodland, till I was as wet from 

 heat as if I had swum a river ; but from first till 

 almost the last I never set eyes on any animal of chase 

 whatever. After running for more than four hours, 

 the little head of hounds there was again divided ; 

 from the usings I saw I think we must have put up 

 or crossed a band of wild boars. The tail hounds 

 some of them came up, and the hounds singly, as well 

 as in twos and threes, were utterly scattered and 

 speaking in all directions. Having stood still to 

 listen, I soon saw that all was over, and touched my 

 horn to get what hounds I could together. Jules 

 and myself then crossed, and again separated. At 



