158 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



therefore, you must look out for some of the best blood 

 that can be found." 



" And where will I get it, sir 1 " demanded the keeper ; 

 " I knows nobody that has " 



" Stop ; never mind the greyhounds, you may leave 

 them to me, and go on for the present with your own 

 mongrels, who, I must acknowledge, seldom miss a hare, 

 although they all run foul," continued our hero : " Lord 

 Dauntley will be the man to apply to, as he is a member 

 of the Swaffham meeting. Only mind this, I am deter- 

 mined to beat that old parson, cost what it may." 



Exit Mr. Perren, heaving a deep sigh, and muttering to 

 himself " I wish all this may end well." 



I have yet one more little "sign of the times" to pro- 

 duce. The following day was a hunting day with Mr. 

 Raby, and his harriers went to one of his best places for 

 sport. One of Frank's horses went with them, but he 

 himself did not make his appearance at the breakfast- 

 table. His father ordered him to be summoned, and his 

 answer was this : 



" Tell my father I have ordered Achilles to be sent to 

 cover with the hounds, but, as I have got a bit of a head- 

 ache, I shall not get up just yet. Tell him not to wait for 

 me ; I will follow him." 



The hour of meeting being ten, the harriers had one 

 good run before our hero made his appearance, which was 

 at the comfortable, and, with harriers, now usual hour of 

 twelve. And when he did arrive, there was a something 

 in his manner that did not exactly please old Dick. 



" Where is Inkleton 1 " said he to his father, scarcely 

 throwing his eye over the pack. At all events, it was not 

 as formerly- " Here's a fine morning, Dick, for a run ! 

 Yoicks ! Bellman and Blossom, you beauties, I hope you'll 

 show us a tickler to-day." No ; it was once more 

 " Where the devil is Inkleton ? he promised to be here 

 but to be sure it's early yet to arrange about our horses 

 sleeping out to-night ; and also about ourselves getting to 

 the foxhounds to-morrow. It is one of their most distant 

 covers, thirty miles off at least, but I would not miss it on 

 any consideration. Confound him, I wish he would come, 

 for my groom is waiting at the Abbey for orders to send 

 the General forward." Inkleton at length arrived ; and 

 the arrangements to go to cover were instantly made, after 

 this rather comfortable fashion namely, Frank to dine 



