and young wild boar goaded, while the King, the Dauphin, the Duc de Grammont, and the rest of the royal party, had their shots in succession, or, as it is technically termed, their “coup.”  Ten men were busy charging for the King, while as many were engaged for the Dauphin.  Ammunition and cartridges were borne by four attendants, who, as well as the chargers, were all in the livery of the King’s huntsmen.  As shot after shot passed in quick succession, the sounds fell chiefly on the ears of those among the crowd—­and they were the fewer number—­who had hearts within them, and to British feeling each reverberation brought a mingled sensation.  In England, and in most other nations, whether civilized or savage, when an animal is hunted, some chance at least of escape is given.  The reader will bear in mind that the enclosed space around the stand was surrounded by a kind of chevaux de frize, six feet in height, so that the animal had not the least chance of escape, and the work of destruction of course went rapidly on.

Within 300 yards of the stand were placed a number of light carts, whose drivers vociferated loudly at the sound of each shot.  These carts were placed for the purpose of carrying away the dead carcasses, as they accumulated in quick succession within the enclosure.  In the short interval of four hours I saw twenty-three of these carts filled with the produce of the slaughter, which, amidst deafening yells, was conveyed to the end of one of the alleys, where the bodies were deposited in order as they had been killed.  In the first row those killed by the king himself were ranged; and he numbered forty-six roe-bucks, and one marcassin (young wild boar;) the spoil of the dauphin was thirty-eight roe-bucks, being eight less than his royal father, while the rest of the company destroyed among them fifty-four, making a grand total of 138 roes, and one wild boar.

While the carcasses thus remained strewn on the ground, the work of disembowelling quickly proceeded.  It was the business of one man to range the game in the order I have mentioned—­another ripped open the body with a sharp knife, while a third party, to the amount of a dozen, were engaged in the disembowelling.

The day, which hitherto was bright and glorious, now began to close into evening.  The air became keener, and I felt a disposition to leave the forest and return to Fontainbleau.  But, though I had heard the king, I had not yet seen him, and my party being anxious to come in contact with royalty, I consented to remain.  Presently the crowd began to rush towards the enclosed space, but the gendarmes, ever active, kept them at bay.  The multitude, however, despite opposition, ranged themselves into two lines; and, in a few minutes, the signal ran that the king was coming.

His majesty was on foot—­he was surrounded by the officers of his household, dressed in a plain, dark-green frock, with a star on his breast.  On his head was a small, round, gray hat, full of days, or mayhap years, and of services.  His breeches were of the homeliest thickset; and he also wore a pair of large leather gaiters—­such as are very common among farmers and peasants in Kent and Sussex.  Though the conformation of his figure was not powerful, yet it was muscular and wiry, and he appeared in perfect health.