THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



countries where the fences are chiefly dead hedges, with small 

 ditches and timber, but no strong, live, blackthorn hedges, 

 which horses must push through, and leap a wide ditch beyond 

 them as well, and where there are no brooks of any width, 

 many of which, indeed, horses can walk through.' 



He took his friend's advice, and purchased two well-seasoned 

 geldings that had had many a hot spirt over the deep vale of 

 Belvoir, and the cream of the Quorndon country, and at the 

 moderate price of 800 guineas for the two. 



Epsom and Ascot were also taken in their turn, and neither 

 of them without their impression on our hero. When con- 

 templating with himself, at the latter place, as to the means 

 by which he could put his resolves into effect, as to once 

 signalising himself on the turf, the following rather curious 

 coincidence happened. He was thus accosted by his friend 

 Dauntle}' : — 



' I have a word to say to you, Raby,' said he. ' I have 

 just heard of a person in a retired part of Wales, — a devilish 

 good judge of racing, mind ye, — who has two two-year-old 

 fillies of his own breeding (and very well bred they are) to 

 sell, and both are in the next year's Oaks. He will take 400 

 guineas for them, and I strongly recommend you to purchase 

 them, as you wish to have a shy at the turf. At all events, 

 they are dog-cheap.' 



' Cheap enough, no doubt,' replied Frank, ' but I must look 

 out for tlie money before I open my mouth wider. I cannot 

 spare such a sum out of my allowance.' 



' Certainly not,' replied Lord Dauntley ; ' but I will manage 

 that part of the affair. I will lend you the money, and I have 

 a friend who will let the fillies run in his name, and they can 

 go to my trainer's, or any other you may prefer.' 



No sooner said than done. The fillies — and very clever 

 ones they were — were purchased, and, soon after the following 

 Christmas, put into training in the name of Darkin, but, as 

 they had not made their appearance as two-year-olds, were not 

 even named in the betting. In fact, in the true acceptation of 

 the term, they were dark ones. 



Nothing very remarkable occurred to our hero during his 

 stay in London, whicli did not exceed six weeks, although he 

 was very far from being idle. In addition to the purchase of 

 the two hunters, he gave orders for a comfortable travelling 



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