174 A MONTH IN THE FOKESTS OF FRANCE. 



a narrow meadow, said to be a point for which the 

 boar would assuredly make, as he had always done 

 so from those woods ; and though I doubted, when 

 the direction of that point was indicated to me, if the 

 wind for it on that day was fair, nevertheless, my 

 doubts were overruled by advice of the most positive 

 description, 



No sooner had we commenced our passage through 

 the village, the woods to which we were going being 

 close by, and pervious to any noise, than the huge 

 French horn began amusing itself with playing a 

 " fanfare," very " exciting," no doubt, to us and the 

 villagers, but not in the least calculated to lull the 

 old sanglier in unsuspicious rest, or induce him to 

 await our arrival. On my suggesting the inutility as 

 well as disturbing nature of this noise, my delighted 

 friends assured me that " the boar would not mind it 

 a bit." " Odd," I said, " if he don't, if that which 

 you have repeatedly told me is correct, about the 

 noise of the hunting-horns being able to scare wolves 

 and boars too, from any portion of the forest. How- 

 ever, we will hope that * his lordship ' sleeps soundly, 

 or that position, draughts of air, or inequality of 

 ground, will prevent the din from reaching him." 



According to the positive instructions I received. 



