THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



which some fine hunting was displayed ; and Mr. Raby and his 

 friends returned to the Abbey, well satisfied with their sport, 

 and with a good appetite for their dinner. 



During the interval between the two runs, which was not a 

 very short one — for hares were not abundant in those days — 

 Frank was seen in earnest conversation with a well-mounted 

 gentleman, a stranger to Mr. Raby and his friends, who attracted 

 every one's notice by the masterly manner in which he rode, 

 and the attention he paid to the hunting of this celebrated 

 pack of harriers. ' I have hunted in all our best counties,' 

 said he to his friend, and this in the hearing of our young 

 sportsman, ' and chiefly in the crack county of all — in Leicester- 

 shire ; but I never saw more beautiful hunting than these 

 hounds have this day shown. I have not only admired them 

 when in difficulties, in which I must say they were ably assisted 

 by their huntsman, but the head they carried in chase surprised 

 me; surely Mr. Raby must breed a great number of hounds, 

 to be able to top and tail them to their present perfection ; for 

 there does not appear to be half an inch of difference in their 

 height, nor more than a yard or two in speed. Then what 

 beautifully formed animals they are, and how light yet musical 

 are their tongues : in fact, how unlike the heavy, throaty, long- 

 eared, bow-wowing brutes that I have seen in other countries. 

 I really think that if I lived near them, — devoted as I have 

 been all my life to foxhounds, and prone to despise harriers, — 

 I should hunt with them at least once a week.' 



These were honeyed words to the ears of Frank Raby, who 

 repeated them with much delight to his father on their road 

 home ; and it was also in his power to inform him where this 

 lion, in his eyes, was domiciled, which happened to be at the 

 mansion of an intimate, but non-hunting friend. 'Ah!' said 

 Mr. Raby on the last-named circumstance being made known 

 to him, 'then we shall see him at the Abbey on Saturday, 

 if he remains so long on his visit to Sir William, as the 

 baronet and his party dine with us on that day.' ' Oh ! papa,' 

 observed Frank, ' how glad I am to know that ! we shall hear 

 all about Leicestershire hunting, which is the best in all the 

 world, I believe ; bvit will you promise not to begin upon it 

 with him until we come in to dessert?' Mr. Raby smiled, and 

 said nothing ; but doubtless his heart responded to the call of 

 his favourite son, 



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