They passed the time pleasantly enough, listening to the stories of the
izzard-hunter, who related to them much of the lore current among the
peasantry of the mountains--tales of the chase, and of the contraband
trade carried on between Spain and France, besides many anecdotes about
the Peninsular war, when the French and English armies were campaigning
in the Pyrenees. In this conversation Pouchskin took part: for nothing
was of greater interest to the old soldier than _souvenirs_ of those
grand times, when Pouchskin entered Paris. The conversation of the
izzard-hunter related chiefly to his own calling, and upon this theme he
was enthusiastic. He told them of all the curious habits of the izzard;
and among others that of its using its hooked horns to let itself down
from the cliffs--a fancy which is equally in vogue among the chamois
hunters of the Alps, but which Alexis did not believe, although he did
not say so--not wishing to throw a doubt on the veracity of their guide.
The latter, however, when closely questioned upon the point, admitted
that he had never himself been an eye-witness of this little bit of goat
gymnastics; he had only heard of it from other hunters, who said they
had seen it; and similar, no doubt, would be the answer of every one who
spoke the truth about this alleged habit of the chamois. The fact is,
that this active creature needs no help from its horns. Its hoofs are
sufficient to carry it along the very narrowest ledges; and the immense
leaps it can take either upward or downward, can be compared to nothing
but the flight of some creature furnished with wings. Its hoof, too, is
sure, as its eye is unerring. The chamois never slips upon the
smoothest rocks--any more than would a squirrel upon the branch of a
tree.
Our travellers questioned the izzard-hunter about the profits of his
calling. They were surprised to find that the emolument was so
trifling. For the carcass of an izzard he received only ten francs; and
for the skins two or three more! The flesh or venison was chiefly
purchased by the landlords of the hotels--of which there are hundreds at
the different watering-places on the French side of the Pyrenees. The
visitors were fond of izzard, and called for it at the table. Perhaps
they did not relish it so much as they pretended to do; but coming from
great cities, and places where they never saw a chamois, they wished to
be able to say they had eaten of its flesh. In this conjecture the
izzard-hunter was, perhaps, not far out. A considerable quantity of
game of other kinds is masticated from a like motive.
It was suggested by Ivan, that, with such a demand for the flesh, the
izzard should fetch a better price. Ten francs was nothing?
"Ah!" replied the hunter with a sigh, "that is easily explained,
monsieur! The hotel-keepers are too cunning, both for us and their
guests. If we were to charge more, they would not take it off our
hands."
"But they would be under the necessity of having it, since their guests
call for it."
"So they do; and if there were no _goats_, our izzard-venison would sell
at a higher price."
"How?" demanded Ivan, puzzled to make out the connection between goats
and izzard-venison.
"Goats and izzards are too much alike, monsieur--that is, after being
skinned and cut up. The hotel-keeper knows this, and often makes
`Nanny' do duty for izzard. Many a hotel traveller at Eaux Bonnes may
be heard praising our izzard's flesh, when it is only a quarter of young
kid he's been dining upon. Ha! ha! ha!"
And the hunter laughed at the cheat--though he well knew that its
practice seriously affected the income of his own calling.
But, indeed, if the truth had been told, the man followed the chase far
less from a belief in its being a remunerative profession, than from an
innate love for the hunter's life. So enthusiastic was he upon the
theme, that it was easy to see he would not have exchanged his calling
for any other--even had the change promised him a fortune! It is so
with professional hunters in all parts of the world, who submit to
hardships, and often the greatest privations, for that still sweeter
privilege of roaming the woods and wilds at will, and being free from
the cares and trammels that too often attach themselves to social life.
Conversing on such topics, the party sat around the bivouac fire until
after sunset, when their guide admonished them that they would do well
to take a few hours of sleep. There was no necessity for going after
the bear until a very late hour--that is, until near morning--for then
the beast would be most likely to be abroad. If they went too soon, and
found him still in his cave, it was not so certain that even the dogs
could prevail on him to turn out. It might be a large cavern. He might
give battle to the dogs inside; and big as they were, they would be
worsted in an encounter of that sort: since a single blow from the paw
of a bear is sufficient to silence the noisiest individual of the canine
kind. The dogs--as the hunter again repeated--should only be used as a
last resource. The other plan promised better; as the bear, once shut
out of his cave, would be compelled to take to the woods. The dogs
could then follow him up by the fresh scent; and unless he should
succeed in finding some other cavern in which to ensconce himself, they
might count upon coming up with him. It was not uncommon for the
Pyrenean bear, when pursued by dogs and men, to take to a tree; and this
would be all that their hearts could desire: since in a tree the bear
would be easily reached by the bullets of their guns. Besides, they
might have a chance, when he returned to his closed cave, to shoot him
down at once; and that would end the matter without further trouble.
It was not necessary to go to the cave until near morning--just early
enough to give them time to close up the entrance, and set themselves in
ambush before day broke. On this account the guide recommended them to
take some sleep. He would answer for it that they should be waked up in
time.
This advice was cheerfully accepted and followed. Even Pouchskin
required repose, after the rough handling he had received at the mouths
of the mules; and he was now quite as ready as his young masters to wrap
himself up in his ample grenadier great-coat, and surrender himself into
the arms of the Pyrenean Morpheus.