THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



equals ; and lie has secured the esteem of the former by tlie 

 followino- praiseworthy conduct: — Although he is very punctual 

 to his time of throwing off, and would not wait more than ten 

 miiuites for a duke, he will wait twenty for some graziers, whoso 

 horses he sees at the cover-side, when he knows there is a 

 cattle-fair in the neiglibourhood, at which their presence is 

 required. He here shows that acuteness and I'ight judgment 

 which are conspicuous throughout his entire character, and 

 have led to the eminence he has attained, as the master of a 

 pack of foxhounds in the finest country in England.' 



Mr. Rahy. — ' I am delighted with your description of this 

 fine sportsman ; will you favour me with some account of his 

 establishment ? ' — a question suggested by Frank, who whispered 

 in his father's ear that he should like to know the name of 

 Mr. Meynell's huntsman. 



Mr. Somerby. — ' With the greatest pleasure. I shall not 

 feel weary of recapitulating scenes and circumstances which 

 have been, and I hope will continue to be, the source of the 

 chief pleasure of my life. Mr. Meynell has two packs of 

 hounds ; one called the young, and the other the old pack ; the 

 latter consisting of hounds of three years old and upwards, 

 none of two years old being admitted into it, unless a very high 

 opinion be entertained of their steadiness and abilities. The 

 young pack are hunted twice a week, in woodlands as much as 

 possible, and in the least popular covers, having a few steady 

 old hounds to assist them ; and it is to the old pack that the 

 best parts of the county are assigned, in which they meet four 

 days in the week, when the weather permits. 



' The name of Mr. Meynell's huntsman is John Raven, a 

 man of good parts, and of peculiarly sportsmanlike appearance. 

 He has the eye of a hawk, the voice of a stentor, is a good 

 sportsman, and not to be excelled in horsemanship. (At these 

 words Frank's eye glistened, and he was heard to heave a sigh 

 — as much as to say. How I should like to see that man !) His 

 two whippers-in are equally efi'ective with himself ; but, strange 

 to say, one of them (Jones) has but one leg, having suffered 

 amputation for a white swelling, and the loss is supplied by 

 cork.' 



Mr. Rahy. — ' What a game man must Jones be ! I have 

 often wondered, Mr, Somerby, that Mr. Meynell should reside 

 at Quorndon Hall, as I see, by the map, that it is situated 



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