THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 247 



the morning, along with our horses, especially before 

 Christmas. Ours would be in a sweat if the morning was 

 at all close, whilst my lord's would be as dry as a bone. 

 I thought to myself, sir, that this must be a great 

 advantage to these horses over ours, when they came to 

 follow the hounds through a run, as, for my own part, I 

 always feel weak after sweating much in my work. So 

 you see, sir, if it is a little hard on master's horses to 

 be pent up in those places all the summer, instead of 

 galloping about and playing in the park, they get the best 

 of it in the winter, by being in so much better heart for 

 their work. Then, again, they are not tormented with 

 the flies here, as they are in the park, for I have often 

 watched the old Squire's hunters in the summer, and 

 been really sorry to see how they were plagued. It was 

 nothing but stamp, stamp, stamp, all day long. And" 

 (addressing the huntsman) "you remember, Dick, that 

 you always said your famous old mare, the Queen, would 

 not have turned roarer, nor Stumps have gone broken- 

 winded, if they had not been turned out to grass." 



" I certainly did so," replied Dick, " and think so still. 

 Indeed, I am something inclined, Mr. Robson, to be of 

 James's way of thinking as to keeping hunters in the 

 summer months. I have often said to myself, when I 

 have seen the horses I ride with the hounds galloping 

 about this park, where the ground has been as hard as a 

 barn-floor, surely I give you enough of galloping in the 

 hunting season. Then, again, they come up so fat from 

 this good land, that they never seem to me to be anything 

 like themselves till after Christmas is turned ; and, 

 moreover, when I have done with them for the season, 

 and they are stripped for turning out for the summer, 

 they appear to me to be just in proper trim." 



" Well," said Mr. Robson, " I am not one of those who 

 refuse to listen to reason ; and from what I have heard 

 from James and yourself, I am much disposed to believe 

 that this method of treating valuable hunters may be 

 better than letting them run loose in the park, that is 

 to say, as far as their condition is concerned ; but the 

 expense is very great." 



" One would think so," resumed James, " but master 

 says it is not. Indeed, he declares it is much the cheapest 

 plan ; and Lord Sandford"'s groom told me he has often 

 heard my lord say he considers he has saved 2000 in 



