18G THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



tricks he does not choose to show here, he is a 

 civil, willing fellow, and as a strapper can do two 

 ordinary men^s work. I never had reason to find 

 fault with him but once, when I detected him 

 making one of my horses lie down in his box, 

 which he had taught him to do when he made 

 some signal to him. He and Jack, whom you will 

 see presently, are old friends, and, I strongly sus- 

 pect, make summer campaigns together, probably 

 to fairs and races; they keep, however, their 

 mutual secret : he answers my purpose, and you 

 will see him shortly in his glory." 



Young Roberts and a friend of his came, as I 

 had asked them, to lunch. This ended, we sum- 

 moned Messrs. Jack and Ben to our presence. 

 Jack was a tall, loose-made, big-proportioned, fel- 

 low, with a good-humoured countenance, strongly 

 favouring gipsy origin; a green velveteen shoot- 

 ing coat, with pockets of all sizes, into and out 

 of which, no doubt, many odd things went and 

 came; at his back hung a square hamper-like 

 basket, supported by a stick on his shoulder, that 

 no doubt, on emergency. Jack could use with 

 dexterity and effect. 



"Well, Jack," said I, "have you got the 

 varmint ? " 



" All right, master, and all ready, " says Jack. 



"Now, Ben," said I, "fetch the dogs." 



Ben returned with my three terriers. 



