216 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



may be avoided, but it is difficult for a hound in 

 thick cover to keep out of the way of a pertinacious 

 and pugnacious old sow. In this instance all the 

 hounds were beaten off, and if she had had a fancy 

 for remaining where she was, we had no means to 

 displace her. However, as soon as the slot was 

 found, the hounds being drawn on it, they took up 

 the running under the more satisfactory feeling that 

 once again their foe was flying instead of running 

 after them, and they were in their legitimate calling, 

 that of pursuit. In this instance I had repeatedly to 

 notice what I had observed before — French hunts- 

 men never form the slightest or indifferently correct 

 idea of the probable distance that the animal has 

 obtained ahead. Amused and excited by the sense- 

 less clamour of the babbling hounds, they invariably 

 fix their attention on the loudest noise, and stand in 

 ecstacies in a ride till it comes up to them, and then 

 go on to some other position, but seldom far enough 

 ahead. 



During this day, I know I am speaking well 

 within the mark, when I assure my readers that 

 poor Barricade's sister, Bavard, with others of the 

 English hounds, close up with the old sow, were two 

 miles in advance of the towling, hanging, uproarious 

 old French hounds dwelling on the line ; but my 



