Page:Fairytales00auln.djvu/538

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480
BELLE-BELLE; OR,

here is another gifted man: you will want him; you must take him with you." Fortuné drew near him, and with his usual grace, asked him, "Why he was thus tying his legs." "I am going to hunt," said he. "How?" said the Chevalier, smiling, "Do you mean to say you can run better when you are thus fettered?" "No, my Lord," replied he, "I am aware that my speed will not be so great, but that is my object; for there is not a stag, roebuck, or hare, that I do not outrun when my legs are at liberty, so that by leaving them continually behind me they escape, and I scarcely ever have the pleasure of catching them!" "You seem an extraordinary man," said Fortuné; "what is your name?" "They have given me the name of Swift," said the hunter, "and I am well known in this country." "If you would like to see another," added the Chevalier, "I should be very happy for you to go with me; you will not have so much fatigue, and I will treat you well." Swift was not particularly well off, so he willingly accepted the offer proposed to him; and Fortuné, followed by his new servants, continued his journey.

The next morning he saw a man on the border of a marsh, binding his eyes. The horse said to his master, "My Lord, I advise you to take this man also into your service." Fortuné immediately asked him, why he bound his eyes. "I see too clearly," said he; "I spy the game more than four leagues off, and I never shoot without killing more than I wish. I am therefore obliged to bind my eyes; for, though I got but a glimpse, there would be neither partridges nor any other little birds left in the country in less than two hours." "You are very clever," replied Fortuné. "They call me the Good-marksman," said the man; "and I would not leave this occupation for anything in the world." "I have, notwithstanding, a great inclination to propose to you to travel with me," said the Chevalier; "it will not prevent your exercising your talent." The Good-marksman made some objections, and the Chevalier had more difficulty in winning him over than with the others; for sportsmen are generally fond of liberty. However, he at length succeeded, and left the marsh in which he had halted with his additional attendant.

Some days after this, he passed by a meadow, in which he saw a man lying on his side. Comrade said, "Master, this man is gifted; I foresee that he will be very necessary to