268 
PASSIONAL ZOOLOGY. 
But suppose at last the wolf found at home, the sleuth-hound 
which has recognized him is a dog as wise and discreet as the 
enemy he has to deal with, and contents himself with pointing to 
indicate the entrance. The drivers are posted around the cover, 
the relays posted far off. The lair has been attacked by four 
strong dogs. They are all on the route. Halloo there, children ! 
the beast starts — the joyous tumult has opened the chase. Go 
it, hunters and whippers-in, if your horses have bottom and your 
dogs hamstrings, you will soon know it. The beast has debouched 
on a small trot to spare its forces, it cuts straight ahead, it is an 
old wolf sure enough. Twenty more dogs at the beast ; sound, 
bugles sound. . . . . The wolf takes no notice of the noise, he 
continues his point. Two of you get before him and turn his 
flank! Very good; but the wolf has heard the noise and the 
direction of the cavalcade; just triples his pace, and they get up 
in time to see him slacken off before them in a small trot two or 
three hundred yards ahead ; he moderates his pace as soon as he 
sees no pressing danger, and stops a moment to observe the loca- 
tions and to enjoy his chase. The pack is in full cry, far behind. 
The wolf track, though cold, is always easy to follow. Always 
right straight, no defaults to fear, no stratagems to decipher. 
Still straight ahead, and you are sure soon to meet with steep 
hills, with quagmires, with vines, swampy meadows, a river, 
two rivers, obstacles which wolves cross or climb over more easily 
than horses. Still straight ahead, and after two hours^ chase the 
dogs, thrown out of their country no longer know who leads them, 
and the horsemen dispersed are obliged to inquire of passengers 
their road, and the course of the hunt. Straight ahead two hours 
more and all the hunters are distanced, and only Snorter and 
Storm keep the track. Then the wolf, to amuse himself, turns 
about and charges them to such purpose that Snorter and Storm, 
no longer feeling themselves encouraged either by voice or bugle, 
conclude by giving way and resigning themselves to return, curs- 
ing the straight line and the devil of a beast. 
Another such day’s hunt, and another gash in their skins, and 
Snorter and Storm swear to renounce the wolf for the rest of their 
days. The relays would have done well had the wolf passed on 
