THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



— as a stick with a basket to guard the hand is called — is 

 equally serviceable in its way ; and I will show yon a man, 

 to-morrow, at the cover sidi', who is one of the best SM^ords- 

 men in the army of the present day, having derived his 

 superiority from the constant use of the back-swoi-d while at 

 Rugby school.' 



The season drawing to a close, and Frank Raby, not con- 

 sidering his stud strong enough to -make a finish of it at 

 Melton, bent his steps homewards, and arrived at the Abbey 

 about the first week in April, having the pleasure to find all 

 his family in good health. Nearly the first thing that he did, 

 was to send for Mr. Robson, the steward, and direct him as to 

 making preparations for his stud during the summer months ; 

 neither was the order a light one. But we will describe the 

 meeting between them on the occasion. 



' Good morning to you, Robson,' said our hero ; ' I am 

 glad to see you well. I want to arrange about my hunters, 

 eight in number, which I intend shall remain here durinu- the 

 summer.' 



' Exactly so,' replied the Scotchman. ' We have a very 

 good prospect of a fine bite of grass in the park by May-day 

 at furthest, and the Squire's hunters are always turned out 

 about that time. There is plenty of shade and water, and it 

 will do your heart good to see how the poor beasts will gallop 

 about and enjoj' themselves on fine summer days, and how fat 

 they get. Then there will be a fine herd of them together, 

 with the Squire's eight, and my lady's ponies, and all the 

 hacks ; oh ! how they will ' 



'Ay, ay! I know what you are going to say, Robson,' 

 resumed the young Squire, ' but I am not going to turn my 

 horses into the park, to knock their legs to pieces in galloping, 

 and stamping to rid themselves of flies, besides losino- all 

 their condition, which is now (|uite perfect. You must run 

 me up four hovels in a dry and retired part of the park, 

 dividing each into two, with four outlets of ground, well railed 

 in, of about a quarter of an acre each. The doors must be 

 double the common width, with rollers to the side-posts ; and 

 if no water be at hand, a water-cart must be made to hold 

 two days' consunqotion, and a one-horse cart at command, to 

 carry hay and corn.' 



'Hay and corn!' exclaimed Robson; 'why .surel\-, sir, 



'241 \.) 



