Pagina 158 di 788

"Hold your peace!" he repeated, "and bear in mind, you who are

the foremost hunters in the district, what will come of a

scandalous brawl. Are you aware? These young men, in whom is the

hope of our country, who are to bring fame to our groves and

forests, who, alas! even now neglect the chase, may receive

thereby a new impulse to despise it, if they see that those who

should give examples to others, bring back from the chase only

wrangling and quarrels. Have also due regard for my grey hairs,

for I have known greater sportsmen than you, and I have often

judged between them as an arbitrator. In the Lithuanian forests

who has been equal to Rejtan, either in stationing a line of

beaters, or in himself encountering the beast? Who can compare

himself with Jerzy Bialopiotrowicz? Where is there such a

marksman to-day as Zegota, who with a pistol shot could hit a

rabbit on the run?