156 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



" It is not for planting at all," interrupted the young 

 Squire (for " being planted," perhaps, would have been no 

 misnomer). " I have some idea of getting two or three 

 thorough-bred brood mares, in which case half-a-dozen 

 paddocks will be necessary. The spot should be high and 

 dry, and in as retired a part as can be found, that the 

 mares may not be disturbed." 



" Have you consulted -the Squire, sir, may I be so bold 

 to ask 1 " observed the steward. 



" Not yet," answered Frank ; " but leave that to me. 

 Let us walk into the park, and look for the place I 

 want." 



As they were proceeding on their errand, through the 

 fine and well-timbered park, Perren, the keeper, appeared 

 in sight. " Give him a holloa, Robson," said our hero ; 

 and in five minutes Perren was at his young master's side. 



" Perren," said he, " I want to have a word or two with 

 you, as I am about to leave home. You must get rid of 

 all those slow, lumbering pointers of yours, and, before 

 next August, be provided with two brace of down-charge 

 setter?, and a brace of Newfoundland retrievers, for I 

 shall be in Scotland for the grousing season." 



" In Scotland, sir ! " exclaimed the keeper. 



" Yes," answered his young master, strangely altered, 

 by-the-bye, in the old keeper's eyes since that time last 

 year. " Sir John, and myself, and young Lord Dauntley, 

 have taken a shooting-ground of one of the great Scotch 

 dukes, for which we are to pay 400." 



" But the setters, sir," resumed the keeper ; " right good 

 ones are very difficult to get. And then the money to get 

 'em with." 



" Oh ! leave that to me," continued Frank. 



" But the ' down-charge,' sir. I reckon we shall make 

 a bad job of that, sir : I never zead a down-charge dog 

 in my life, though I have heared Sir John's keeper speak- 

 ing of them." 



" Oh ! leave that to me," was once more the clincher. 

 " I shall send them into Cheshire, to old Potts, the 

 watchmaker, who breaks them for ten pounds apiece." 



" Ten pounds for breaking a dog ! " exclaimed the 

 keeper, with his eyebrows half-way up his forehead, and 

 his little pig eyes opening as wide as he could stretch 

 them. " Did you ever hear of such a thing, Mr. Robson 1 

 the man must be a big rogue.'"' 



