58 Captain Dahher. 



be at his first meet and see how he did things. It was as 

 well they did, for, as it happened unfortunately, Charlie's 

 first meet was his last. It happened in this way : — The 

 Captain, as he was now called (why or wherefore nobody 

 knew exactly), like a careful man, had taken the wise 

 precaution of having all the subscriptions to his hunt paid 

 in advance — short credit, in his opinion, making long 

 friends. Our friend, then, was enabled to appear on his 

 opening day in high feather — brand new coat, brand new 

 cap, brand new breeches and boots, brand new everything. 

 Not only that ; fixed in his saddle was a splendid silver 

 hunting-horn, presented to him by the members of the 

 new hunt the night before at a big dinner given in his 

 honour at the Ship and Turtle Tavern. In short, he was 

 no end of a swell. Well, the sporting Cits were all 

 assembled at the meet, Charlie, in the centre of them, 

 sitting on his horse amongst his hounds as cocky as you 

 please. What a great man he felt that day ! Napoleon 

 at the battle of Marengo was nothing to him. How his 

 field admired him ! " What a splendid pack of dogs ! " 

 exclaimed one enthusiastic old innocent ; " Magnificent 

 'ounds," cried another. (They had only cost a pony at 

 Aldridge's, the whole lot.) ''What a splendid hunter!" 

 remarked another, pointing to the Master's horse. At 

 last came the cry of '' Here's the deer cart ! " and sure 

 enough the great lumbering vehicle was seen coming along 

 in the distance. The Master trotted forward, with a self- 

 satisfied air, to meet it. Approaching nearer he saw at a 

 glance from the driver's face that something was wrong. 

 '' Well, what's made ye so long ? " said he, sharply, as 

 the man pulled up short. '' We've been waiting ever so 

 long ; turn him out as quick as you can ; come, look 



