290 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



At this moment a gentleman in black trotted past the 

 coach, and on its being remarked by our hero, that Jem 

 made him a most respectful salutation, he asked him his 

 name. 



" His name, sir ! " answered Jem ; " why I thought 

 everybody knew Parson Smith the cleverest parson in 

 the county. They tells me that when he preaches the 

 church is as full as a cock-pit." 



" By the simile you have used/' observed Lord 

 Edmonston, " I presume you are given to cock-fighting." 



w Have been so, in a small way, all my life, my Lord," 

 replied Jem. " And when we gets to Sir Harry's, he will 

 show you, if you ask him, the picture of a favourite cock 

 of mine, that won me six battles. It is painted on the 

 dial-plate of a watch I gave the Baronet soon after he left 

 college ; and there are also pictures of a race-horse, a 

 bull- dog, and a greyhound on it, with my own ugly face 

 in the centre." 



A good laugh, of course, followed this episode of Jem's, 

 and, when it ceased, Lord Edmonston told him he was 

 sorry to hear he was fond of so cruel a sport as cock- 

 fighting. " My friend, Mr. Kaby, had a turn that way," 

 said his Lordship, " but I am happy to say he now flies at 

 nobler game." 



" Why, my Lord," said Jem, " I much fear there are no 

 sports which you gentlemen takes delight in, that are not 

 more or less cruel. I thinks as how I should have given 

 up cock-fighting, had not a very clever gentleman of our 

 University made me believe it is not at all cruel." 



" Do you recollect what arguments he made use of 1 " 

 inquired Hargrave. 



" Why," answered Jem, " if you can take them in my 

 homely language, they were much after this fashion. He 

 said he did not think cock-fighting equal as to cruelty to 

 horse-racing, in. which poor animals are forced, against 

 their nature, to performances beyond their strength, with 

 whips and spurs, which jockeys call cutting up. And this 

 now happens only a few months arter the poor sufferer 

 has been taken from the side of its clam. But in the 

 fighting of game-cocks the case is different ; for instead of 

 a force against nature, it is an indulgence of nature." 



" Of natural propensities, you rneaii, Jem," said Frank 

 Raby. 



" I shouldn't wonder," resumed Jem ; " but this is my 



