54 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



CHAPTER III 



Devoted to rural scenes and characters, and combining matter of 

 amusement and instruction, with maxims of sound theory, and 

 examples well worthy of imitation. 



THE next day being Sunday, Frank had matters of a 

 graver kind to attend to all very necessary, how- 

 ever, to guide him in the " race " he had to run ; and 

 the plain, comprehensible sermons he heard in Amstead 

 Church were admirably adapted to that purpose. But, 

 on the Monday, a pursuit was proposed to him, by Jem 

 Perren, the keeper's son, quite as much to his taste, at 

 that early age. This was a game, once in much vogue in 

 England, and especially in counties bordering on the sea- 

 coast, known by the name of " a crow's-nest race ; " that 

 is to say, either a carrion-crow's nest, or a particular one 

 in a rookery, was to be climbed for, by three boys, and he 

 who first put his hand into it was the winner. Now this 

 was not at all to Andrew's taste ; so that Frank had to 

 look abroad for his competitors ; but he had no difficulty 

 in procuring them. One was the son of the rector, a fine 

 and spirited lad, and of the same year with himself ; and 

 the other, a son of a neighbouring gentleman, much of a 

 like kidney. 



" That shall be the nest," said Frank, pointing to one in 

 the highest tree in the rookery. " Surely not," said young 

 Chapman ; " the boughs are very slender ; indeed they 

 look as if they would break with our weight." Jem 

 Perren was likewise of this opinion, and began to lament 

 having proposed the day's amusement. " Nonsense," said 

 Frank, "the tree is alive and good at the head, and I'll 

 be bound it will bear us." In fact, possunt, quia posse 

 videntur" was his motto ; and he thus addressed his 

 competitors : " Now, my boys, off with your jackets ! 

 wht'ii Jem gives the word, let us start." 



The race is not always to the swift, but it is sometimes 

 to the bold; and this was the case here. It was well 

 enough contested, until the party arrived within a few 

 yards of the summit, when the apparent slightness of the 

 boughs, together with the frightful abyss below, caused 

 young Chapman and the other boy to pause. But Frank 

 was not to be daunted. "With the branches trembling 



