expressed in thy large, melting, black eye, brimful of dewy tears, can fail, inwardly, to curse his barbarity?

Another isolated clump of wood has now been invested, and again the pack are busy at their work within; but a sly buck, that has gained wisdom from experience, has broken, where least looked for, and is first viewed racing over the open glade, well on his way towards the next shelter. Hot on the scent, and eager in their cry, the dogs are still, however, pottering about the same spot, and from the little progress they make, it is evident that they are hunting one of the little bluebucks, of whose musky odour they are so strongly enamoured, that nothing will induce them to leave it. Running round and round in a limited circle, dodging backwards and forwards from bush to bush, the dwarf defies their utmost efforts to expel it from the covert, nor would they catch it in another month, did we not creep in upon all-fours to their assistance. The sport has now terminated. It has been a lovely day, but the soft zephyrs whisper that it is drawing to a close. White, fleecy vapours are flitting across the bosom of the more distant hills— the long shadows, fast approaching, have spread their grey mantle over a large portion of the valley, and, ere we reach our home, night has involved the whole landscape in mourning weeds.

Be

Great as the difficulties of moving with wheeled carriages had sometimes appeared in the interior, yet, when compared with those encountered on our homeward journey to the metropolis, they proved utterly unworthy of a record. In regions where the name of Macadam is unknown, we are left at full liberty to select a route for ourselves, and rarely does a little perseverance fail to reveal a practicable one; but when a high road is already prepared to the hand, infamous though it obviously be, we hold ourselves in honour bound to follow it. yond the limits of civilization, accidents were thus of comparatively rare occurrence; during our return pilgrimage, across the rugged regions of the eastern coast, a complete capsize, or the fracture of some important portion of the vehicle, formed weekly entries in our log the former invariably proving lamentably fatal to our worldly possessions. It was during the descent of one of the mountain passes, leading out of Outeniqua Land to Dorp of George, that the most ruinous smash of all occurred; the slippery path having there been, by some skilful engineer, led by a series of zigzags, over a succession of formidable acclivities and perilous descents-barely fit for baboons to travel-along the verge of yawning chasms, so many hundred feet in perpendicular height, that the contemplation turned the head dizzy. Not a living creature was to be seen, save a grey vulture sometimes sweeping in mid air below us. All around, for miles, far as the eye could scan, was a billowy sea of mountains-wild, boundless, desolate; one range melting into the other, until the airy outline of the last fairly mingled with the clouds that rested upon their lofty peaks. We took the usual precaution of hiring an extra team from a surly boor residing at the foot of the range; but the honest man, affecting to mistrust our solvency, doggedly insisted upon receiving, in advance, every stiver of his exorbitant demand; and had no sooner touched de gilt, than he secretly instructed his inebriated Hottentot driver not to assist us one step beyond the summit. True to his orders, the fellow accordingly prepared to desert us at a late hour, in the most dangerous part of the

whole road, having first obligingly thrown the wagon on its side against a rock, which, fortunately, abutted just sufficiently to prevent the vehicle from going over, so that with the aid of a tackle it was restored to equilibrium. Threats, coaxing, bribery, ay, and even brandy, failing, in turn, to shake the ruffian's determination, and the steep, stony descent, crossed by numerous deep gullies, having been rendered slippery as glaciers by recent heavy rain, I felt convinced that, with cattle unaccustomed as our own were to any but a champaign country, it would scarcely fail to go hard with us. Amply, indeed, were my fears verified. Four of the leading oxen having been removed from the yoke, in order to render the rest more manageable, three of the wheels were chained; yet many and frightful were the hair-breadth escapes that preceded the final catastrophe! Perched upon the pinnacle of some lofty crag, as if actually suspended in the air, with one hind wheel resting on an almost perpendicular slope, and the other buried in a deep hollow, the vehicle often leaned over at an angle of forty-four degrees, the sport of every breath that stirred. Again in motion, it was launched, tottering from side to side, along some narrow undefended ridge, where the turn of a feather would have sufficed to decide its fate-a sharp angle at the foot of one of them, leading directly over a polished pavement, which sloped to the very verge of a frightful precipice. Barely had I effected the removal of my artillery from its place within the awning, when a portion of the saturated bank gave way, and down went team and all into the abyss below-the wagon cutting three several somersets, wheels uppermost, finally resolving itself, with an appalling crash, into one shapeless heap, whilst the motley contents flew forth, and displayed themselves in admirable disorder. Peltry, merchandize, and hunting trophies; camp furniture, tin wares, and oilman's stores, were simultaneously scattered over the hill side; several thousand leaden bullets-returned from the campaign in the interior-being liberated, by the sudden jerk, from the sacks wherein they had been sewn up, seemed to emulate each other in a well-contested race towards the lower ground. The two wheel oxen were killed on the spot; a third had its shoulder dislocated; and whilst few indeed escaped without bumps and bruises of some sort, the vehicle to which they had so recently been harnessed, had assumed, in one single moment, the hopelessly shattered appearance of a total wreck!

THE "COMBATS DES ANIMAUX," AT PARIS.

THE spot on which these scenes are exhibited, is in a suburb of the French metropolis, and the sport only takes place on special occasions during the season. Being in Paris, in the month of June, last year, accompanied by two friends, I put myself into a fiàcre, and at once took a high degree in the estimation of the coachman, by desiring him to drive to the "Barrières des Combats."

The amphitheatre appropriated to these exhibitions is of a square form, and, like similar places in Spain, is unroofed, except above the audience. The boxes occupied one side; the pit was opposite; and the galleries, or cheaper situations, were at each end; but these were all raised, so as to keep the spectators out of harm's way, and there was an under place at one end of the theatre, also securely railed off, to which, judging from their exterior, the ladies and gentlemen therein assembled must have been admitted at a very easy rate. The audience, generally, had a more respectable appearance than we expected; but, in France, all dress well on holyday occasions, when coarse or rude behaviour is classed by them amongst the most grievous of sins. The majority of those in the boxes were English.

The first display was a fight between a wolf and three mastiffs. The attack was generally made by the dogs; but, although exceedingly careful to show fight simultaneously, they once or twice got themselves fearfully lacerated, and it was evident that, had the keepers not interfered, one or more of them would have fallen a sacrifice. Three bulldogs were next put on a bear, which, at first, ran from them, but, being hard pressed, he turned suddenly round, and seizing one with his teeth, crushed another in his embrace, while he had to endure the third dog biting and tearing at his nostrils. In the end, bruin was decisively victorious. Four dogs were then set on a wild boar; but this part of the entertainment proved a total failure. The boar, which was of formidable dimensions, stood on the defensive, and the dogs having evidently felt his huge tusks in their hides, on some previous occasion, not one of them would come to the scratch.

A battle succeeded, between an ass and four bulldogs; and a singular exhibition it was. The durability of the ass, and its stubbornness of disposition, are well known; but its extreme fierceness, when attacked, we were not prepared for. Its dexterity, too, in using its teeth and feet, was quite extraordinary. No idea of it can be conveyed by description. Five dogs were then put on him at one time, and the scene was literally terrific. One powerful dog he struck dead by a blow from his fore foot, while, almost in the same instant, he so fastened his teeth in the back of another, as to make it roll on the ground, writhing in agony.

But the concluding, and only "intellectual" part of the entertainment, was the "bull-baiting," evincing, as it did, how much can be achieved by courage and skill, when opposed to strength which, to the eye, appears invincible.

The bull led into the arena was a very noble animal, said to be of the true Spanish breed, and he certainly was, in form, perfectly symmetrical. He snuffed the air, and paced around, as if conscious of his powers. But he was soon humbled. Three English bulldogs were put to him, and the scene became one of deep interest. The dogs, cautious from experience, followed him, backing round the enclosure, waiting their opportunity for a spring. This system of tactics continued for a short time, on both sides, and it was not until the dogs had been repeatedly beaten down, and one of them wounded so seriously as to induce the keepers to carry him off the ground, that the other two fastened, the one on the throat of the bull, the other on his nostril. The animal now became furious with rage, and, tossing his head aloft,

pitched one of the dogs into the air, while, with concentrated force, he struck the other on the ground. Yet the English bulldog, which was one of the silky-skinned, rat-tailed breed, still kept his hold, amidst the unqualified applause and admiration of the spectators, and, in the end, pulled the bull's head to the earth, and while his companion lay, to appearance, lifeless, he alone dragged the great animal round and round the arena. We had never before witnessed a bull-fight, but now we quite understood the fascinations of the sport, and how it happens that the Spanish women, of all ranks, are unable to resist the allurements of this certainly unfeminine amusement. Altogether, we were highly gratified by our visit to the "Combats des Animaux ;" and if any of the readers of the SPORTING REVIEW should be led there, on the next occasion of their visiting Paris, they will not regret their drive to the "Barrières des Combats."

THE RACE-HORSE.

A TALE.

BY SIR JOHN DEAN PAUL, BART.

PART IV.-THE CATASTROPHE.

'Twas a sound maxim we from Horace had,
"Whom the gods wish to ruin they make mad."
And Green was sinking to that hopeless state,
Vain, headstrong, stupid, and infatuate.
Now came the day, when myriads from the town,
Through dust and sun, are whirl'd to Epsom Down:
The tilted wagon bears the joyous snob;
The proud barouche the calculating nob:
Sinners of all sorts gaily dress'd in smiles,
These sends St. James's forth, and those St. Giles'.
The scene is English all-the rustic Grace
From leaf-plash'd wagon shows her rosy face,
While swains considerate the journey cheer
With nut-brown ale, and creaming ginger-beer.
Mark where the cheat his foul vocation plies-
The gaping clown the pea and thimble eyes;
Convinced he'll win, he throws his money down-
Presto! the pea is gone-and his half-crown!
Pursues the gipsy there her mystic trade,
Her palm is cross'd, she tells the blushing maid
Of some young noble whom her charms shall fix—
Fair children, wide domains, a coach and six!

* "Quem deus vult perdere prius dementat."

But hark! the saddling bell-fast rolls the tide
Of eager sportsmen to the hill's green side:
They gaze delighted on the cavalcade,
And, as each noble steed is there display'd
Glowing with coat of sheen, and eye of fire,
Hope strives with fear-they tremble and admire.
The signal's given, and Green is on the rack-
'Twas a false start-the field is beckon'd back.
Again-again-with like result they try,

But now "they're off!"-in rank compact they fly,
Sweep round the turn, and, fiercely striving, run
Home for the goal-Muff is the first that's done.
See! Saladin's in front-a gallant race!—
Endymion closes him-he takes his place-
Endymion wins!-What hopes those cheerings blight;
Poor Saladin is beat—“ a sorry sight!"

With tottering limbs Green crept behind the stand,
And there o'erheard the converse of the band,
Skulking aloof, that, like the bandit train,
Divide the spoil, fresh rifled from the slain.

Quoth Crabs to Sly, "Two thousand is your fare;
And here's five hundred for Muff's jockey's share;
And as for Green, to his division fall

The fruits of verdancy-to pay for all."

Silent he stood, and gazed with vacant stare,

Upon his kindred pigeons in the air,

That wheel'd around their strange instinctive flight,
Ere they could shape their destined course aright,
And bear the wish'd-for news of those who won,

To those who watch'd in modern Babylon.*

Then forth he rush'd, and sought to drown his care,
And win from wine a solace for despair;
Draught after draught he drain'd, then seized the rein,
His frighten'd groom had long withheld in vain,
And wildly braved a fate as promptly found—
A ghastly grave upon the purple ground!
But say,-do they who rule these courts of sin,
Connive, in faith, to let Endymion win?
Or is there still a deeper game to play-
A richer victim is there yet to slay?
Endymion's triumph is but to precede
The day his owner shall more amply bleed.
He's in the Leger-well they know the fame
Of this event will more exalt his name.

But wherefore weary with the twice-told tale-
How the good suffer, and the base prevail?

Immediately after these great races are decided, carrier-pigeons are despatched, with a label attached, bearing the name of the winner, to their owners in London.