228 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



he cried, "and we'll attack them with such hounds 

 as are fit to go." I was not long in complying with 

 this request, when Jules, Maurice, Ludovic, the 

 Captain, and myself set off on a beautiful morning. 

 M. d'Anchald did not go with us. Arrived at the 

 cottage of a poacher, we then learnt that the boars 

 that had that morning been reported were those 

 that we had already disturbed days ago, when old 

 Musto, as previously described, prevented my getting 

 a shot. Crestfallen enough w^e were at finding our- 

 selves out on a fool's errand; but, after due con- 

 sultation, we resolved to cross the river to the other 

 side of the forest, and to draw that portion of the 

 woods where we had previously met with the boars. 



It was agreed to commence at the outside quarter 

 of the forest; so the spare guns went in, to line 

 the intersecting ride. The ride itself was damp 

 enough between the ruts to slot any animal that had 

 traversed it ; and, as is my constant custom on such 

 occasions, I closely examined the ride as I came up, 

 and ascertained that nothing heavier than a mouse 

 had been upon it. My post was the outside one of 

 the whole line ; so, tying Coco still further ahead of 

 where I was, to act as a sort of " stop," I selected a 

 spot whence I could see on either hand, and listened 

 for the babbling commencement. As usual, the 



