THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 81 



lid when they had to pass in procession before old 

 eorge III., a "lad named Ripston appeared in one big 

 lough for a full-grown man, with skirts down to his 

 'eels, and great silver buttons, with a fox running 

 Waved upon them. Old Heath was outrageous, and 

 died him up to him, which being observed by 'Old 

 tobbs,' as we called the king, he asked the Doctor who 

 le boy was? On hearing the name, his Majesty good- 

 umouredly exclaimed, ' Oh, Doctor, leave him alone ; / 

 now his breed.' The fact was, he was the son of a 

 orting baronet, a master of foxhounds, and he had had 

 'he coat made large enough to fit an old huntsman of his 

 ather's, then past work. But here are the hounds ; we 

 re just in time ; and, by the number of horses at the 

 over-side, it appears as if we should have a large field. 

 [fan and old Preston must take care you are not ridden 

 l)ver at the start. And there is the master of the pack, 

 bless him ! a better sportsman never cheered hound ; 

 'md 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 Blackthorns. 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 up 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 you 

 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 be 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 



Sack was, as usual, kind and cheering. " Glad to see you, 

 ir John," said the master, "you always bring us luck." 

 6 



