, 1873-12-21
A HUNT WITH VICTOR EMANUEL.

Tho impression which tho chiyalrous Hing
mado upon mo ut my last visit to the Itallsn
Court, after not having seun him for fifteen
years, was most Agreeable ono. Do not im-'
aginc him to bo 4 BtiT courtiar, but Eenuino
choya'ler,-a sort of medmyal laudaknecht who
BeemB to please the Italians Oh nccount Of Ills
bl,lntncas, which is so groatly ut variance with
their polished, insinuating manners. Although
only Of medium stature, he presents cosnma4d-
ing appoaranco by his weft-ronndcd form, his,
tlas,ing eyes, and military bearing.
He came to mcet 1uo with Ol1tstretclleu hands,
Welcomed me heartily. and asked me about my
relatives, with whom ho was acquainted.
Tho Banlo eyoning,I dned with him. Victor
Emanuel, as true Piodmontese, munclod hia
partak,1g OF any other dishes. But his ahstenl-'
iouBucss was not surprising; for ho Likes to dine
alone. Walking up mud down in hia room, he
board, aud drinks with it lalt lire of strong
piodmontoso vino. When attending gala-dn-
uers. ho never cats anything but the aboYe'mon-
| toned griffin.
| tho rest OF tho gueHtB, mud invited me- to 60
hunting with him uo1t day.
| Toward evening OH the following. day,:in car-'
rlagoa drawn by foar thoroughbred llotscg (for
| Victor Emanuel ll1a tho finest stud Of horses in
| Europo), wo reached tho hllnt1ng-castlo in tho
GratAn Alps, the Only mountainous region out
side Of Spain whore tho lbex il found Jet for il
has long become axtinct in Savoy Switzerland.
aud tho Tyrol.
Wo had 10 companions but q few aides and
hunters. Ind prosecuted two splendid pocdlo-
| guns to tho King, nnd he told 1uo he was burn-
ing to try thom upon this noblest and raroae OF
| European game.
iiarly in tLo morning tho King distributed tho
cast for the hunt among III. a fcw carriers
uero sent with provisions to an appointed piaeo
in the mountains, where we wero to meet at tue
ond OF tho hunt. THO alles aud hunters ns-t
ce1,(led nuuutain-path to tho left, while tho
King aud I, I,uccompaniod bya single servant,
advanced Btraight ahoad. Victor Emanuel waa
arcssoa in 4 short black velvet jacket: 1n l!ia
hand ho held long Afpiuo staff. and his rl1o
was strung across Ills back. Tic sun roso ma
1cstica1ty, mud 1t soon became Ycry wavnn. NeY-
ertLeloss, the Hing mado go9a heaa%ay so maen l,'
with him. We left tho forests bohind us, and
passed through tho Alpine pastures: Every now
ind then the King stood still to tako breath.
Nol{l-clRss, Wo heard tho srill notcB Of tho
1narmots, but dsdained firing ut such 1gnoblo
game. ,,
atsendaNt doclarcd that ha clearly dlacernea TUG
fresh trail OF au ibe1 Aord. ..
Suddenly Lie King lnotionoa to INC, ind. lantt~
ing mo tho fiold-glasB, pointed at several DARE
HpotB betweon rocky slope and glacier AZ
etuuee tliaccrped three fine specimens OF tho
ibox grazing on green oasis,-the lrHt over
bel,old. Notwithstanding tho great distance, :
plainly cav how one OF them turned around nnd
hnnned the a. ar Inc aas ht ad taa
. l
evidently not yct aecn US. No" 1t was NJ m
,ortant for ua I'd get lotweou them and the
wind Tho King orllorod Ills attendant to steal
around them, a.sd to drive thenl toward ua witk
loud noise. whlo we wero to climb up cautiously
I'd meet thesn. Wo lnS down prostrato upon til.
, ground md watol,ed tho progress OF the attepd~
: mt, Who with tho utmost circnnsreotlon, por-
formed lila arduouH task It laBted iaalf MI hour
before ho came up close to them., At length ho
. | rosa Within ten faet OF tho throe ibaxae.
: Tho King Bpr:lng to lis feut. Hia faco was
n.'9s rsady ytH oteIsisa 70 sSeet o whispered to
Tho distance is great, bit you must show tint
. | Prussians can shoot wall" ,,.,,.
Q Wa climbed with tic utmost caution litts
i higAer. Tho King then drew from hls M, oolt
small silver whistle and blew, on It, lilo no1f
moment q large ibex emerged from behind tue
: Opposite rock, aud tried to cross the chasul
sepnrating t from ia The King lre nnd I'D II. IT,.
i co second iGex, whioh Lad closely followed tug
first But it sprung to its fcet again and triea
ii 10 rotraoe its stops. II met, however, our third
=. ihex and both foil under our fatal bnl!otn.
u u The excitement OF this raro sport lad hah
T. j. uaaldened me-. hurried toward tho deaa
animals, while the Kiug fo'low9.i me- s'1my t,,sn
T. When wo roacl,ed then Victor Emanuel ,Iaa H.
wcm no ono es!. bo more koo,o!1t a a1t,onsh @ he ha
d tL1s protestoIi but ho was iutle1iblo
So, two Of tho ihexos wore aSoatSa fa,, - ~ "
nano. Whit magnilcont st1m 1t 'Iey nowitb I1I
n..tf.
II stenaing tIeir innuese horns. by far more agile
n Their afn il not brown, Iko tlat Of tho chamols
II II ,'ihn Kn9 now ss,lt tho attendant to taho ta
gams oe nd The Then sod9stoa to osR o meu,' to IL
u csmt eyor travelled in tho Alps. Frequently VI
~ ~ lad lad to join l,au's In order to get oa mus
= coufaps tint my strength waa noarly exhausted
a. hut Victor Emanuel .wAlkotl on with saton!sh
~ iug yigor. / Was glaa whom wo csp!ed tho auto
g. whom wo had left IN tho mornings. and who 10
r. colyod ua with enthusiastic cheers.
ta They sero sitting round large fire on iN seas
l. OF 1nosB, mud wo were asked to cat ana al'h
I'd with them. ..-.,.3 .,, ,,,.tt,
nd Emanuel, gayly, to mo- halld NJ yon maat perm
,o me to treat you u ai,oh.' ,..,.,t - ,, =
10 1Io took up ohieken and solzitg 10 by ohs '
il. tue hind legs, offered mo the oset ssynE gas
aa ": " Let III 90 lalvoa!" We pulled asunoe'
at hid got tho bigger IArt. :, a,,o,,
nj :" Now q good EubIot Of our rod vino J. ehon'
to cd tLe Ktpg. This III botter than al your g.
,r, dinnerB |" ~,.... ,,.uo, n
~. | osorS onh \ RQloi0Ts 212 W&1