8 Hunting in the Golden Days. 



soundly to hear anything, for a hard day's ride after 

 hounds is conducive to peaceful slumber. 



Of late years our host has been unable to walk 

 quite as well as he could wish whilst shooting, 

 and so has had recourse, good sportsman that he 

 is, to a shooting cob, " for," says Goodbery, " 1 7 stone 

 for Shanks's pony is a good deal to carry." When 

 shooting one day, being mounted as usual, and coming 

 across some heavy land that lay on the side of a 

 steep hill, he called on his fellow sportsmen to keep up 

 in line, forgetting that he was mounted and they on foot. 

 The poor fellows did their level best to keep the line 

 with him, upon which he remarked, with a wicked 

 twinkle in his eye, *' I say, you fellows, this makes you 

 huff and puff a bit, don't it ? Come on, my lads, keep 

 in line ! keep in line ! " But to our tale. 



Air. Goodbery is going hunting to-day. Not that 

 this is an unusual event in his life, for he takes 

 the field about four days a week. This morning he 

 is expecting Oldwig, a hunting friend, to call for him 

 on the way to covert, and on looking out of the 

 window he sees that worthy riding up the drive on 

 his hunter. Goodbery is blessed with a coachman 

 who is always on the spot when wanted, and of course is 

 there to hold the stirrup whilst the guest dismounts, 

 should he so desire. 



"Welcome," exclaims the hearty host in a joyous 

 voice, " and let me give you something, for the 

 weather looks somewhat threatening and you know the 

 old maxim, * He who would the dart of death defy, should 

 keep the inside wet, the outside dry.' " With these words 

 he produces two large silver tankards, bearing by their 

 dents probable evidence that they have been used at an 

 earlier date in settlement of some difference of opinion. 



