190 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FEANCE. 



cover, and my brother huntsmen in England will 

 know how much difference there is in horses through 

 cover, and will be well aware of the advantages. At 

 last with a rush, and with every variety of specimen 

 of the forest foliage stuck in my belts and boots, saddle 

 and stirrup-irons, we came out into the open country, 

 and then we raced in the direction where I expected 

 the fun was at the full. I had rounded a corner, and 

 was flying the shortest way to another bend of the 

 wood, when I saw an object standing under a hedge. 

 It was motionless and dyed with blood, and I knew it 

 to be a hound. The object stood in my way, and as I 

 passed I beheld poor Barricade, one of our best fox- 

 hounds, split or ripped open apparently from flank to 

 head on the right side, the blood in a jet as thick as 

 the little finger still pouring out from behind the ear. 

 I never saw so miserable an object — her beautiful 

 face so different in expression to what it was when 

 I had cheered her in the run ; unable to walk, she 

 seemed to stand up transfixed with pain ; so, fearing 

 that more mischief might be going on while I was 

 away, I cried to a peasant, who was standing close 

 by, " Le pauvre, pauvre chien a vous ! " pointing to 

 her at the same time with a look of pity ; and again 

 I plunged into the woods, the peasant directing me 

 with his hand. At last I came out on the side of 



