12 BROADLAND SPORT 



in the trap in readiness for the start. As soon as the grass 

 began to burn the fusees caught fire. One spluttered on to 

 the pony. Down went its head, up came its heels, and out 

 went the bottom of the trap; then away it dashed at full 

 gallop. 



The master let go the reins; Jack tried to get hold of 

 them, and in so doing he was thrown out and left, whilst the 

 master was borne away in a cloud of dust, frightened out of 

 his wits. He continued his wild career for about a mile, 

 when what was left of the trap was upset by a stone heap, 

 and, very much bruised and shaken, he was conveyed home 

 in a milk-cart that luckily happened to be passing. After 

 this, having settled the bill with Jack's friend, he turned 

 his back upon Jack Sparrow for ever. The mere mention 

 of his name was enough to put him in a temper for the 

 rest of the day; more often than otherwise for a longer 

 period. 



Jack Sparrow was once more dependent upon his wits 

 for a living, as he was one of those who never did a real 

 day's work in his life. 



Now there happened to be living, a few doors from his 

 cottage, an honest, hard-working little widow, whose 

 husband had recently died leaving her to provide for 

 several very young children, and Jack conceived the idea 

 that "he might as well hang up his hat behind her 

 door" as anyone else. He did not consider the matter 

 long, and a fortnight after the above-mentioned episode, 

 Jack was stepfather to the little ones, whilst the ex- 

 widow had another large appetite added to the family 

 board. 



For some months Jack passed his time prowling round 

 with a gun, picking up whatever came in his way, and 

 spending all he could lay his hands on at the pot-house of 

 his choice. 



One wild and stormy afternoon he went as usual up 

 the Broad for the flight. His fowling punt was at best 

 both small and leaky, and on this, his last trip, the three 



