EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



" I say, D.," said Sir F. after dinner, " send 

 for a good brand, and a good vintage." 



" And we will drink it," I rather uncere- 

 moniously put in. 



" You drink it, sir," returned the captain, 

 scowling on me. " You ought not even to smell 

 a cork, much less drink wine, at your age." 



This insulting remark nettled me immensely ; 

 it wounded my boyish vanity. 



" The devil I should not," I retorted. " Why 

 not ? A man," I added rather pompously, " who 

 can take the shine out of you at pigeons may, 

 I imagine, drink claret ?" 



It was now the military man's turn for a rap 

 at me. 



" I tell you what, youngster, I will bet you 

 a hundred sovs to ten you do not take this said 

 jack in ten weeks, fish as you like." 



" Done," I passionately answered ; " I will 

 take your hundred to ten ; and if I do not win, 

 there is one consolation, I cannot do much worse 

 than you have." 



" Hold on, old fellows," put in Sir F. " I 

 do not like all these bets. We are not here to cut 



each other's throats. You are too hard on the 



I* 



