THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 199 



season. Here, then, was the character of our hero at once 

 brought forth, and stamped. In some of their best runs 

 which are not denied to hounds in the grass countries, 

 even to the middle of April he particularly distinguished 

 himself ; and it was the general opinion of the best judges 

 amongst the Meltonians and the members of the other 

 Hunts, that Frank Kaby, as he was now everywhere 

 called, would one day or another rank in the foremost 

 class, not only of horsemen, but of sportsmen verifying 

 the prophetic verdict of Mr. Forester, that he was "a very 

 promising young one." 



A sample of a young sportsman's life in London A near thing for 

 the Oaks at Epsom, and a close shave for the Oaks at Amstead. 



fTlHE season concluded, our hero took his departure 

 J_ from Melton, but not without having hired most 

 convenient apartments for the forthcoming one, together 

 with a ten-stalled stable for his horses, being resolved on 

 adding four others to his number, as well as replacing 

 those who could not do the trick. In fact, he was now 

 spoiled for riding anything second-rate, and Bowman and 

 the General were the only two that he intended to keep 

 for the ensuing year. 



Between his arrival at Amstead, and " the Derby," a 

 period of as much note in the almanack of a sportsman as 

 Whitsuntide or Easter in that of others, nothing occurred 

 to our hero sufficiently worthy of record, unless it be the 

 receipt of the two following letters at about the end of 

 the first fortnight : 



" GROSVENOR SQUARE, Sunday, April 19. 

 " DEAR EABY, Your account of your doings at 

 Melton delighted me, but not so much as that I have 

 heard from others of your performance over the country, 

 and the good impression you left behind you on the 

 people. They all say 'you will do,' and enough is 

 expressed in those few words. I saw your fillies a few 

 days back, and I really think you have a chance. True- 

 man says he has tried them high (such are his words), and 



