THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 157 



"Not at all," resumed Frank; "it is money well laid 

 out. Lord Dauntley tells me he can bring four setters, 

 broke by him, into the field, not one of which will stir, 

 after the bird is down, till called by its name. For 

 example if Dash makes the point, Dash is the first on 

 his legs again, not one of the others stirring until their 

 names are called. See what an advantage this gives you 

 with wounded or scattered birds ! He refused a hundred 

 guineas for the two brace of dogs." 



" Well, to be sure," observed Perren, " his lordship has 

 a chance to get his money back, but " 



" Oh ! botheration to getting the money back, you slow 

 old fool," said our hero. " Do you look out for two brace 

 of the best young setters you can find, and leave the rest 

 to me." 



" But the retrievers, sir," resumed the keeper ; " where 

 shall I " 



" Oh ! leave them to me," was the young Squire's reply. 

 " Lord Dauntley has recommended me to a clog-dealer in 

 London, who will furnish them to me, but I suppose I 

 shall have to pay the rascal an infernal price for good 

 ones." 



" Xo doubt, sir," observed the keeper ; " and wouldn't 

 it be well, sir, first of all, to know that they be good ones ; 

 for, if they shouldn't be good, I doubt you would have 

 some trouble to get your money back ? " 



" Well, leave that to me," said Frank ; " look you to 

 the setters ; and now go about your business ; but don't 

 come home without at least three couple of cocks, as I 

 want to send two couple to London." 



The keeper touched his hat, and walked off ; and, just 

 as he was beginning to cogitate, was holloaed back by his 

 young master, who thus somewhat imperiously addressed 

 him : 



" Oh ! Perren, I forgot to mention one thing to you. I 

 don't think I shall ever be really fond of coursing. In 

 the first place, it is too slow a sport for me ; and, in 

 the next, I think it breeds petty jealousies amongst 

 the owners of dogs. In fact, I am now about to give 

 a proof of the latter objection. I am determined that 

 leather-headed parson, Roberts, shall no longer be the 

 champion of our coursing meeting. He has now won 

 the cup three years following, but he must have a check. 

 Those brindled devils of his will not be hard to beat ; 



