150 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



Studded with sheep, which appeared overburdened 

 with good condition ; and as I drove up the avenue, 

 I passed a well-featured, well-clad simpleton, urging 

 before him, from a neighbouring stubble-field, a flock 

 of turkeys as formidable for numbers as for size. In 

 short, everything about the place bespoke the opulence 

 and comfort of the proprietor. 



" Mr. Morden was a clever and respectable man ; 

 he was land-agent to several large estates — noted for 

 plain and unpretending hospitality, punctuality in 

 business, and a character of unusual determination. 



" The old gentleman received me with friendly 

 sincerity, and his handsome daughter added a warm 

 welcome. They apologised for not having company 

 to meet me, but ' two families which they had expected 

 had been detained by some unforeseen occurrences at 

 home.' Dinner was shortly after served. Like the 

 host, it was excellent without display — the wines were 

 superior — and when the ladies left us, the claret went 

 round the table merrily. 



" ' We are in trouble here,' said Mr. Morden, addres- 

 sing me, ' and you have come to a house of mourning. 

 We have just suffered a serious, I may say irreparable, 

 loss, in the sudden death of two favourite dogs. They 

 were of the genuine breed of Newfoundland, and for 

 size, courage, and sagacity, unequalled. Poor Emily 

 has cried incessantly since the accident.' 

 " ' Were they stolen ? ' 



" * Oh, no 1 I wish they were, for that would afford 

 a hope that chance or money might recover them. No, 

 Sir, they would not follow a stranger ; alas ! they died 

 yesterday by poison. We, unfortunately, laid arsenic 

 in a meal-loft to destroy rats — and yet how the poor 



