THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



to fit an old hiiiitsman of liis father's, then past work. But 

 here are the hounds ; we are just in time ; and, by the 

 number of horses at the cover-side, it appears as if we should 

 have a large field. You and old Preston must take care 

 you are not ridden over at the start. And there is the master 

 of the pack, God bless him ! a better sportsman never cheered 

 hound ; and when you come to know what foxhounds are, you 

 will say he knows how to breed them. In fact, taking them 

 for size and shape, there is not such a pack, this day, in 

 England ; and if we live long enough, we shall hear of their 

 blood in every kennel in the land. But, Frank, let me have 

 a word or two with you before we get to the cover. We are 

 sure to find a fox, and, there is reason to believe, a good one ; 

 I shall, therefore, tell Preston what to do with you. If he 

 goes down wind when first he breaks, his point will be Black- 

 thorns. In this case, I shall tell Preston that, if he takes 

 you down the turnpike-road about 200 yards, and then turns 

 short to the left, he will find a line of gates, that will lead 

 you straight to the wood, where, probably, he may hang a 

 little. Should he go wp wind, Roystone will be his point, a 

 very stiff" country to begin with, and the Stark brook, to a 

 certainty. Preston will here make for either the mill, to the 

 left, or the bridge at Elwel, to the right ; for yoii must not 

 have the Stark, if you mean to return alive to the Abbey : it 

 is wide and deep, and the banks are very soft. However, you 

 will bo in good company, for not more than one in ten of the 

 field will have the Stark at all.' 



The greeting between Sir John and the master of the pack 

 was, as usual, kind and cheering. ' Glad to see you, Sir John,' 

 said the master, ' you always bring us luck.' 



' Glad to hear you say so,' i-eplied the baronet ; ' we certainly 

 have had a succession of fine runs lately, thanks to your excel- 

 lent hounds, and the way in which they are hunted. But I 

 have brought you something more to-day ; I have brought you 

 a young sportsman, of no small promise, who has the good taste, 

 even at his early age, to prefer foxhounds to harriers. I hope 

 we shall enter him well to-day to a good run, and blood him at 

 the end of it.' 



' Glad to see you, sir,' said Mr. Wardc (for of him and his 

 hounds have I been speaking, and who was then in the zenith 

 of his glory, and hunting one of the many countries which he 



82 



