THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 173 



look out for the money before I open my mouth wider. 

 I cannot spare such a sum out of my allowance." 



" Certainly not," replied Lord Dauntley ; " but I will 

 manage that part of the affair. I will lend you the 

 money, and I have a friend who will let the fillies run in 

 his name, and they can go to my trainer's, or any other 

 you may prefer." 



No sooner said than done. The fillies and very clever 

 one> they were were purchased, and, soon after the 

 following Christmas, put into training in the name of 

 Darkin, but, as they had not made their appearance as 

 two-year-olds, were not even named in the betting. In 

 fact, in the true acceptation of the term, they were dark 

 ones. 



Nothing very remarkable occurred to our hero during 

 his stay .in London, which did not exceed six weeks, 

 although he was very far from being idle. In addition to 

 the purchase of the two hunters, he gave orders for a 

 comfortable travelling post-chaise to one of the best 

 builders in the Acre, and furnished his saddle-room with 

 everything wanting for his stud. He also purchased two 

 brace of greyhounds, at rather a high figure, which, after 

 having defeated the parson's famous bitch, Fly, that had 

 been the terror of the club in his neighbourhood for two 

 successive years, he made a present of to Perren, having 

 no turn for coursing. Having then replenished his 

 fishing-book with some of the best tackle and flies, he 

 took leave of his uncle, whose house had been his home 

 during his visit, his uncle taking leave of him in nearly 

 these words : 



" God bless you, Frank ; I wish our pursuits were more 

 congenial ; but still, although they are as wide apart as 

 the poles, I wish you to excel in yours, as I might have 

 excelled in mine, but for a constitutional infirmity. This," 

 putting a 100 bank-note into his hand, " will not retard 

 your progress ; and if at any time you require the fellow 

 to it, you have nothing more to do than to say so. " 



The month of August found our hero snugly domiciled 

 in the Highlands of Scotland, on the shooting-ground 

 engaged by Lord Dauntley, and where, with the accession 

 of another friend of his Lordship, a delightful month was 

 passed. The return of the game killed was as follows, 

 which was not amiss for that period, when it was not so 

 abundant as at present : 



