FALCONRY 277 



my pony as often as he could find leisure to be 

 bothered with me, the thirteen miles or so that 

 divided Hare wood from Scriven, and receive edu- 

 cation in the handling of hawks. 



Sir Charles was a past master in managing 

 the sparrow-hawk perhaps the most difficult kind 

 of hawk to control and keep in health, and with 

 his friend Mr. Bower used to have capital sport 

 with blackbirds and thrushes in July and August. 

 In this sport I was a truly willing novice, and 

 was also allowed, under careful supervision, to do 

 a little " carrying " and training of the young 

 hawk which had been set aside for me to try 

 my hand with. 



At last the day came when I was allowed to 

 take it home and do my best with it all alone ; 

 and I was a proud boy as I rode home across the 

 countryside with my hawk on hand for the first 

 time in my life. 



Well, the history of all beginners' hawks is 

 much the same. I devoted myself to her. I got 

 more education for myself than ever the hawk 

 suspected. But I got her perfectly trained and 

 fit to go hawking with. And then I was wrecked 

 on the rock of " condition," so fatal to all of us, 

 old hands and beginners alike, and the delicate 

 little hawk got out of health and soon died. 

 But I had become fairly started as a falconer. 



