HUNTING REVERSED. 213 



formed by Jules, and ascertained that M. d'Anchald 

 had posted himself, and that his groom and Maurice 

 only were cheering on the hounds, I took on myself 

 to guard one side of the cover where a field divided 

 the woods, waiting for a shot or riding into the wood 

 to assist the hounds, as occasion might require. 

 Round and round this wood the old sow kept run- 

 ning, when, though several times she came close up 

 to the verge of the copse, she would never show 

 herself nor attempt to break. Of course I kept my 

 ground, and, where I could see a long way on my 

 side the wood, ascertained that others did the same 

 by their's, leaving the far side of the cover to be 

 similarly cared for by M. d'Anchald and the blouses. 

 It soon became quite evident to me that within the 

 wood the tables were being turned, and that, instead 

 of the old sow being hunted, she every now and then 

 hunted the hounds, charging them whenever she met 

 or could see them, and absolutely beating them oflP. I 

 rode into cover, got off my horse, and crawled on my 

 hands and knees beneath the bushes, making myself 

 no higher than a hound, in the hope of deceiving her 

 when she had not the wind, and inducing her ap- 

 proach — but in vain. Though I could hear her 

 come at a jog-trot, for she did not choose to run any 

 faster — and even see the copsewood shake above 



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