The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-06-05
THE GRAIN OF SHOT.

y In my time q mean the good time
of our dear Alsace) NJ Franck of Sa-
verne was famous in the two de-
partments as an accomplished hunt
or. This notary, who was about
30 years of age, was indeed the aston
ishment of the youngest and most
dapper foresters. An interchangeable
walker, a nearly infallible shot, he
possessed astonishing quickness OF
wit, unfailing judgment, great cool
ness and prudence, all of which are
priceless qualities for the hunt. /
will not do him the injury to add
that he did not hunt, like so many
other magnates of the district, to sell
his game to the innkeeper of the
Soleil dor. He was not only the
most loyal and the most disinterested,
but also the most courteous of COM
panions. Be it at home, be it with
others, he gave the honors of the deer
or of the hare to the neighbor who
was most in a hurry and wanted
most to shoot the first, reserving it
for himself to kill the game after it
had been missed by others.
But among all these solid qualities
the most extraordinary in my eyes
was that forever watchful prudence
which seemed to have constituted
him the guardian of all the lives
around him. can see him yet with
us, upon the steep road to the Hab-
cracker, on the day of the battue on
which he made me kill wild boar.
This great fellow, all uniform from
head to foot, dressed in plain gray
clothes, with his thick Russian leath-
er boots, his brown felt hat and his
long cravat, fastened by pin of
chased silver, ran along the outskirts
of the company like shepherds dog
which would keep 30 men under his
guard. No accident was possible
with him. When we encompassed
the game, he placed us at well
calculated distances, each one be-
hind a tree, and as long as live shall
1 remember the very polite but en-
phatic little gesture, unaccompanied
by words, which meant, Remain
there, and upon your life do not bulge
from the spot, whatever may hap
pen, as long as the sound of my hunt
ing horn does not call you away"
When the hunt was over, he gave
orders to nobody, but with his mu-
steal deep voice he said, II think,
gentlemen, that we can unload our
guns" He gave the example, and
each one withdrew his cartridges.
This maneuver was SO natural To him
that, on meeting the lsast obstacle,
he executed it while walking and as
by instinct.
One day at the opening of the hunt
in the plain of Bischwiller l saw him
jump 20 bitches in less than an hour
without ever forgetting to put his
cartridges in his box-a thing which
did not prevent him from killing six
cartridges and two hares in the hops,
the clover and tobacco which grew
between the bitches. Iadmired very
much this presence of mind in the
midst of the most exciting exercise
and his constant care for the lives of
others. All my impulses led me to
initiate such a perfect model, but it
is not sufficient to have the will to 90
well; therefore did l forget myself
very often. One day when we were
seated on the grass en- tete-a-tete be-
fore rustic breakfast which the open
air and wholesome fatigue seasoned
royalty:
IN. Franck," said 1 to him, II
know that l shall never equal your
skill, but / should like to become as
prudent as you are. 1t is not an easy
thing, since at my age and with a
certain experience of the chase l am
still somewhat careless of both my
neighbor and myself. How many
years did it take you to acquire this
virtue which / so much envy your"
He started, and his eyelids dropped,
but overcoming his emotion immedi-
ately he answered: Dear friend, my
education in the respect of which
you speak was made in one month,
but never was man put in so rough
school. May heaven preserve you
from having to buy prudence at the
same pricel" y
While speaking he fastened be-
tween the folds of his necktie the sill
yer pin which he always wore when on
the chase. feared that had been
indiscreet, and l was going to excus
myself, when he Continued in firm
tone;
Truly that souvenir must not die
with me. Perhaps the lesson which
received, and which cannot trans
NIT to my children, since | have none
will serve the children of other men
Everybody in Sayerne is ignorant Of
the fact that the famous hunter
known by his monoTfnia for ridt