THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



Dick. — ' Your papa will never keep foxhounds, sir. He is 

 the best master of harriers this day in England, but 'don't take 

 delight in fox-hunting. Then, again, sir, you are wrong about 

 thinking I could hunt fox as well as I do hare. When you 

 turns fox-hunter, which no doubt you will do when you gets 

 to the University, you'll see there is a great difference in the 

 systems pursued with foxhounds and harriers ; and that which is 

 good in 02ie, is bad in another, although not to the extent that 

 some peoj)le thinks. I happened to overhear one of our gentle- 

 men telling how Dick Knight lost his fox the other day with the 

 Pytchley hounds — " at least," said he, " so thought Mr. Alcock." 

 " Mr. Alcock," said one of them, " what does that old thistle- 

 whipper know about hunting ? " Now that is going too far ; 

 for, in my opinion, an old thistle- whipper must know a great 

 deal more of hunting than a young fox-hunter is likely to do. 

 But, Master Francis, can you give me any account of the last 

 run you saw, in which there was a good deal to notice ':' ' 



Frank. — ' Why, you know, Dick, I was behind a bit at 

 starting, because I could not go fast enougli the first ten 

 minutes ; but I said to myself, I shouldn't wonder if tliey come 

 to a check at that large flock of sheep on the turnips, which 

 they did, and I then got up to you. But I think I should have 

 been with you all the way had it not been for that nasty oak 

 stile, which my father would not let me ride at, and took me 

 out of the line to a gate. I am certain Rodney would have 

 cleared it, for I rode him over a higher than that, one day, 

 after you, on Carpenter, when papa was not out — but I was 

 deuced nearly off, Dick.' 



Dick.—' Don't ride at timber, Master Francis — you are too 

 young for that yet ; and, if you get a squeezer at it, it may 

 daunt you. I have had some terrible falls over timber, and was 

 twice picked up for dead.' 



Frank. — ' But about the run ! I saw how you hit off your 

 hare, when the hounds were checked by the sheep. You stood 

 stock-still whilst the hounds made their cast ; but finding that 

 neither Bellman, Bounty, nor Tyrant give tongue, and that some 

 of the others had their noses ofl* the ground, 3^ou gave a blast 

 with your horn, made something like a circle in a trot, when old 

 Bounty hit off the scent, and we went on.' 



Dick. — ' It was Bellman, Master Francis ; but the brother 

 and sister are so alike, that I scarcely know one from t'other 



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