THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



post-chaise to one of the best builders in the Acre, and furnished 

 his saddle-room with everything wanting for his stud. He also 

 purchased two brace of greyhounds, at rather a high figure, 

 which, after having defeated the parson's famous bitch. Fly, that 

 had been the terror of the Club in his neighbourhood for two 

 successive years, he made a present of to Perren, having no turn 

 for coursing. Having then replenished his tishing-book with 

 some of the best tackle and flies, he took leave of his uncle, 

 whose house had been his home during his visit, his uncle 

 taking leave of him in nearly these words : — 



' God bless you, Frank ; I wish our pursuits were more con- 

 genial ; but still, although they are as wide apart as the poles, I 

 wish you to excel in yours, as I might have excelled in mine, but 

 for a constitutional infirmity. This,' putting a £100 bank-note 

 into his hand, ' Avill not retard your progress ; and if at any time 

 you require the fellow to it, you have nothing more to do than 

 to say so.' 



The month of August found our hero snugly domiciled in the 

 Highlands of Scotland, on the shooting-ground engaged by Lord 

 Dauntley, and where, with the accession of another friend of his 

 Lordship, a delightful month was passed. The return of the 

 game killed was as. follows, which was not amiss for that period, 

 when it was not so abundant as at present : — 



Black grouse, seven and a half brace ; red grouse, eighty -five 

 brace ; ptarmigan, three and a half brace ; red deer, seven ; and 

 roe, thirteen. 



But something more imjwrtant and more durable than 

 grouse and deer was the result of this excursion. The trio 

 returned to England with their nerves braced, ready to crack, 

 by the exercise upon, and the breathing the air of, the truly 

 romantic regions of the north ; and each came to the resolu- 

 tion that the excursion should be repeated during the next 

 twenty years, should life and health be so long granted to 

 them to enjoy it, for this was true enjoyment. Exclusive of 

 the actual diversion on the moors, everything they ate was 

 delicious ; the champagne and claret were nectar ; their beds 

 were beds of roses ; hid why ? Because hunger is the best 

 sauce ; exercise refines the palate, and gives additional goilt to 

 wine ; and hard must be that bed on which sound and refresh- 

 ing sleep is denied to the man who has had a good day's 

 grouse-shooting over the Scotch hills, or tho.se of any otlier 



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