200 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



a trial or two they pronounced it too sharp, and went 

 on with their clumsy operation. 



" Why don't you hang the boar up by the hocks/' 

 I said, '^ and so have the carcase at advantage ? " 



" Oh no ; we never do." 



^^ I know it," I rejoined ; "but why don't you? " 



" Oh, it's never done," was the similarly sensible 

 reply. 



'*Look ! " I cried, '^you are spoiling my wild boar 

 trophy ! Why don't you occasionally drop the knife 

 when the integuments will yield to the thumb-nail, 

 and force of the arm, and skin all that you can so 

 skin in that way ? " 



" Oh, we can't ; the boar's skin is too tough." 



"Nonsense," I replied, pulling up the skin and 

 separating a portion of it from the flesh in the most 

 approved manner, by way of demonstration. " There," 

 I said, " if you had the boar suspended by the hocks, 

 you would make a much better job of it." 



*^ Oh no, we never do : he will not skin in that 

 way." 



" Did you ever try ? " 



" Oh no, it is never done." 



" Lord," I said to myself, " 1 wish I was master, I'd 

 soon put some new ideas into you ; " when, finding all 

 further argument useless, I went into the kennel 



