XIII.

/Sport in the Champagne./

The Champagne forests the resort of the wild-boar--Departure of a hunting-party in the early morning to a boar-hunt--Rousing the boar from his lair--Commencement of the attack--Chasing the boar--His course is checked by a bullet--The dogs rush on in full pursuit--The boar turns and stands at bay--A skilful marksman advances and gives him the _coup de grâce_--Hunting the wild-boar on horseback in the Champagne--An exciting day's sport with M. d'Honnincton's boar-hounds--The 'sonnerie du sanglier' and the 'vue'--The horns sound in chorus 'The boar has taken soil'--The boar leaves the stream, and a spirited chase ensues--Brought to bay, he seeks the water again--Deathly struggle between the boar and a full pack of hounds--The fatal shot is at length fired, and the 'hallali' is sounded--As many as fifteen wild-boars sometimes killed at a single meet--The vagaries of some tame young boars--Hounds of all kinds used for hunting the wild-boar in the Champagne--Damage done by boars to the vineyards and the crops--Varieties of game common to the Champagne 235

/Part III./