WOLVES ATTACKING CATTLE. 165 



inspecting the yearlings, never did I see four such 

 wounds made only by as many bites, and all in the 

 flank or hind quarters, each piece within the compass 

 of the assailant's jaws being torn jaggedly away, to 

 the amount in one instance of at least two pounds 

 weight of flesh. 



" What is the reason," I cried, " that, since I 

 have been here, we have never had a wolf-hunt of 

 our own ? " 



" Oh," replied my friends, " we did not know 

 where to find them ; they come a long way." 



This assurance was no satisfaction to me, and it 

 only tended to confirm my notion as to the animals 

 that might be anywhere in these thick woodlands. 

 After-observation convinced me that, often when we 

 were hunting miles away, the best beasts of chase 

 were lurking under the very windows of the chateau. 



The following day — Friday — was so wet, that it 

 was useless to attempt any sport ; and on Saturday 

 morning, again, though Jules and Maurice started at 

 five o'clock, they could not harbour a boar. Never- 

 theless, wet as that Saturday was, they uncoupled 

 the hounds and found a roe-deer, who, though the 

 limiers could not find them, immediately introduced 

 us to boars without end, and we ran boars and roe- 

 deer in all directions. The few hounds w^e had 



M 3 



