176 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



where people are posted." A sort of understanding 

 as to position was then come to, but in which I had 

 not the slightest faith, when, on arriving at the little 

 meadow where the boar was said always to cross, I 

 discovered the wind to set from the meadow to the 

 woods instead of the reverse ; so, leaving my friends 

 to suit their pleasure, I struck away to the riglit 

 to seek a position nearer to the hounds, and better 

 suited to the wind. I should here mention that while 

 in the village, and previously to the start, I had dis- 

 covered a little boy w4io jumped out of his boat-like 

 shoes at the promise of money, and incased his feet 

 in lighter materials, under pledge to stick to me for 

 ever, or so long as I should require him to hold my 

 horse. Having parted from my friends in the little 

 meadow, I coasted the woods some way along the 

 cultivated fields, when, on coming to an excellent 

 landmark in the shape of a large tree in the middle 

 of a field about a hundred yards from the wood, I 

 dismounted and bade my small attendant stick him- 

 self under the tree with my horse for one hundred 

 years, and to deposit his bones there unless I came 

 for him, receiving a very serious " Oui, monsieur," 

 in reply. 



Having left Coco beneath this tree, which stood on 

 such an eminence that I could see it from almost anv 



