innumerable perils to which he stood exposed, le Pareur
bore in his manly physiognomy a character of rude elevation, that was not destitute of nobility It was no
doubt owing to his religious feelings, and to his confidence in the ways of Providence, that our bear-hunter
accomplished feats that were truly miraculous, and that
now have afforded, for more than a hundred years, the
inexhaustible subject for stories and anecdotes, in the
long winter evenings, among the inhabitants of those
mountains.
It was in consequence of the young Lord of Clat following, as a child, this singular man in his dangerous chases, that he was indebted not merely for his vigor of body, but also that energetic sang -froid of which he had given such dazzling proof on the plain of Fontenoy, and that we shall soon see him exhibit in a different field of battle. When Pareur appeared before his young master, whom he had not now seen for two years-he who never trembled before any peril-felt himself moved even to the very bottom of his heart, as much as a poor mother at the aspect of her child that she unexpectedly beholds after a long absence. He was about to cast himself at the feet of his lord, when the latter prevented him, and affectionately shook him by the hand. "You forget, Pareur, my friend," he said, " that it is the duty of the pupil to pay respect to his instructor, and more especially so when he stands in need of his advice and his wisdom." "Speak, my lord, speak ; for, after God , the old hunter is yours, body and soul." " Thanks ! thanks ! my brave honest fellow ; but have you received my letter from Paris ?" "Oh! yes, my Lord, and you may be sure your guests will find some rough fellows to speak to." "How many of them are there on the mountain," resumed the young nobleman, stretching his hand toward one of the giant peaks that shone with the golden rays of the setting sun. " Five in all— a complete family-father, mother, and children." "Well, but a few days yet to come, Pareur, and we shall be called upon to show our country skill-but I scarcely can hope for our superiority-for one of my guests is so excellent a shot, that he can snuff a candle at twenty paces distance." " That is perhaps easier than to strike a bear when he is within four feet of you." " It is my opinion, also ; but as I am particularly anxious myself to judge of his address, you must take care and place us at the same post-at the bridge of Maure, for instance ; for you know" I understand you," said the hunter, and bending down his head, and giving his right ear a pinch- an | attitude which was familiar to him when he was at all
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embarrassed-" but to speak frankly, my lord, I had rather see you in any place than that." 66 Why so ?" "Because, to guard that post, one should have their conscience free, and be in a complete state of grace ; for there the hunter is between two dreadful deaths-the bear on one side, and the precipice on the other." "Thanks to you ! I know the one, and I do not fear the other." "Hum ! now with your Lordship's permission, I would say, I would prefer being with you in that dangerous pass, than see any one else there along with you ." " But are you sure the bear will go to that point ?" "Sure ! yes, certainly ; but no-for it is a cunning beast, and tells no one what it intends to do." "Very well, then ; the matter is perfectly well understood between us. I shall maintain the bridge of Maure with my friend. Do you go and have everything ready for the day on which the hunt takes place." Yes-yes-it is all right," murmured the hunter aside, as he withdrew, pinching his ear—“ but for all that I must watch over him." CHAPTER III. EIGHT days after this conversation, all the guests had arrived at the Castle. M. de Malatour was amongthem, and, notwithstanding the delicate and polite attention of his host, he still maintained toward him a cold and icy reserve in his manners. The greater number of the guests were inhabitants of the centre of France, and it was to them at once a spectacle magnificent and unexpected to behold the mighty chain of the Pyrenees, rising with the whole crown of contrasting snows, beneath the deep blue of a Spanish sky. Before the first dawn of the morning after their arrival, there was collected beneath the walls of the Castle a multitude of traqueurs and batteurs, armed with all sorts of noisy instruments, such as trumpets, drums, &c. Pareur appeared at the head of this assemblage. He was escorted by his faithful dog, which with its broad breast, its fiery and intelligent eye, appeared as the sergeant of a dozen enormous mastiffs that were ranged in close file, and held in leash by the vigorous hunters. The instant the guests at the Castle, armed with carbines and short hunting-knives, appeared, all the cortege, at the desire of Pareur, set forward on their march, and in perfect silence. The very dogs themselves appeared to comprehend the necessity for this procceding, for not a bark nor growl was heard from one ofthem. They proceeded on their way, and nought was to be heard but the dull noise of their own footsteps, the fall of distant torrents, and the cries of some lazy night-birds, as they slowly flapped their wings on their flight to their day retreat. As soon as they had reached
