THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 237 



a stick with a basket to guard the hand is called is 

 equally serviceable in ,its way ; and I will show you a 

 man, to-morrow, at the cover side, who is one of the best 

 swordsmen in the army of the present day, having derived 

 his superiority from the constant use of the back-sword 

 while at Rugby school." 



The season drawing to a close, and Frank Raby, not 

 considering his stud strong enough to make a finish of it 

 at Melton, bent his steps homewards, and arrived at the 

 Abbey about the first week in April, having the pleasure 

 to find all his family in good health. Nearly the first 

 thing that he did, was to send for Mr. Robson, the 

 steward, and direct him as to making preparations for his 

 stud during the summer months ; neither was the order 

 a light one. But we will describe the meeting between 

 them on the occasion. 



" Good morning to you, Robson," said our hero ; " I am 

 glad to see you well. I want to arrange about my hunters, 

 eight in number, which I intend shall remain here during 

 the summer." 



"Exactly so," replied the Scotchman. "We have a 



food prospect of a fine bite of grass in the park by 

 lay-day at furthest, and the Squire's hunters are always 

 turned out about that time. There is plenty of shade and 

 water, and it will do your heart good to see how the poor 

 beasts will gallop about and enjoy themselves on fine 

 summer days, and how fat they get. Then there will be 

 a fine herd of them together, with the Squire's eight, 

 and my lady's ponies, and all the hacks ; oh ! how they 

 will " 



" Ay, ay ! I know what you are going to say, Robson," 

 resumed the young Squire ; " but I am not going to turn 

 my horses into the park, to knock their legs to pieces in 

 galloping, and stamping to rid themselves of flies, besides 

 losing all their condition, which is now quite perfect. 

 You must run me up four hovels in a dry and retired 

 part of the park, dividing each into two, with four outlets 

 of ground, well railed in, of about a quarter of an acre 

 each. The doors must be double the common width, with 

 rollers to the side-posts ; and if no water be at hand, a 

 water-cart must be made to hold two days' consump- 

 tion, and a one-horse cart at command, to carry hay and 

 corn." 



" Hay and corn ! " exclaimed Robson ; " why surely, 



