distance by the dogs, whilst after them came
Charles IX., like some demon-huntsman bareheaded, his horn at his mouth,
sounding as though he would burst his lungs. Three or four _piqueurs_
followed him.

"The king!" cried D'Alencon, riding off to join in the chase. Henry,
encouraged by the presence of his partizans, signed to them to remain, and
approached the ladies.

"Well," said Margaret, advancing to meet him.

"Well madam," said Henry, "we are hunting the boar."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, the wind has changed since yesterday morning. I think I predicted
that such would be the case."

"These changes of wind are bad for hunting--are they not, sir?" enquired
Margaret.

"Yes," replied her husband, "they sometimes overturn previous
arrangements, and the plan has to be remade."

At this moment the baying of the pack was again heard near the
_carrefour_. The noise and tumult rapidly approaching, warned the hunters
to be on the alert. All heads were raised, every ear as strained, when
suddenly the boar burst out of the wood, and, instead of plunging into the
opposite thicket made straight for the _carrefour_. Close to the animal's
heels were thirty or forty of the strongest amongst the dogs, and at less
than twenty paces behind these came Charles himself, without cap or cloak,
his clothes torn by the thorns, his face and hands covered with blood.
Only one or two _piqueurs_ kept up with him. Alternately sounding his horn
and shouting encouragement to the dogs, the king pressed onwards, every
thing but the chase forgotten. If his horse had failed him at that moment,
he would have exclaimed, like Richard III., "My kingdom for a horse!" But
the horse appeared as eager as his rider. His feet scarce touched the
ground, and he seemed to snort fire from his blood-red nostrils. Boar,
dogs, and king dashed by like a whirlwind.

"Hallali! hallali!" cried the king as he passed. And again he applied his
horn to his bleeding lips. A short distance behind him came the Duke of
Alencon and two more _piqueurs_. The horses of the others were blown or
distanced.

Every body now joined in the pursuit, for it was evident that the boar
would soon turn to bay. Accordingly, at the end of ten minutes, the beast
left the path and entered the wood; but on reaching a neighbouring glade,
he turned his tail to a rock and made head against the dogs. The most
interesting moment of the hunt had arrived. The animal was evidently
prepared to make a