178 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



for the outside of the forest, I plunged into its very 

 depths, till I no more knew where I was than if I had 

 been dropped by a balloon from the fleecy clouds 

 above me, but which I could not obtain a view of 

 from the mass of foliage that intervened. One pre- 

 vious observation alone then stood me in stead ; I 

 knew the little meadow, in which I was advised to 

 post myself, was on the lowest level, and that the 

 forest ascended from it. Ah ha ! there, in the midst 

 of the forest, I stumbled on a water-course, so getting 

 into it I followed its direction; and oh, how I stopped 

 and admired ! I came full on the spot where on some 

 hot day the vieua; solitaire had lain to cool himself and 

 wallow in the mud, and splendid his dimensions were, 

 for he had left an impression, the models of gigantic 

 hams. According to my expectation, the water- 

 course brought me to the very spot where I had 

 diverged in another direction from my companions ; 

 and in a few moments I was in the fields in sight of 

 Coco's tree, and soon on his splendid back, informing 

 my little attendant that he deserved death for per- 

 mitting my steed to choke his bit up with grass, and 

 that for the rest of the day he was delivered over to 

 his own inventions — to all of which he replied with a 

 civil and serious *' Oui, Monsieur." 



Oh ! but it was beautiful to hear the cry of the 



