38 WARWICK WOODLANDS. 



some three or four inches wide over the eyebrows; and the 

 crown had been so pertinaciously and completely beaten 

 in, that the sides sloped inward at the top, as if to per- 

 sonate a bishop's mitre; a fishing line was wound about 

 this graceful and, if its appearance belied it not most 

 foully, odoriferous head-dress; and into the fishing line 

 was stuck the bowl and some two inches of the shank of a 

 well-sooted pipe. An old red handkerchief was twisted 

 ropewise about his lean and scraggy neck, but it by no 

 means sufficed to hide the scar of what had evidently been 

 a most appalling gash, extending right across his throat, 

 almost from ear to ear, the great cicatrix clearly visible 

 like a white line through the thick stubble of some ten 

 days' standing that graced his chin and neck. 



An old green coat, the skirts of which had long since 

 been docked by the encroachment of thorn-bushes and cat- 

 briers, with the mouth-piece of a powder-horn peeping 

 from its breast pocket, and a full shot-belt crossing his 

 right shoulder; a pair of fustian trowsers, patched at the 

 knees with corduroy, and heavy cowhide boots completed 

 his attire. This, as it seemed, was to be our huntsman ; 

 and sooth to say, although he did not look the character, 

 he played the part, when he got to work, right handsomely. 

 At a more fitting season, Harry in a few words let me into 

 this worthy's history and disposition. "He is," he said, 

 "the most incorrigible rascal I ever met with — an unre- 

 deemed and utter vagabond; he started life as a stallion- 

 leader, a business which he understands — as in fact he 

 does almost every thing else within his scope — thoroughly 

 well. He got on prodigiously ! — was employed by the first 

 breeders in the country ! — took to drinking, and then, in 

 due rotation, to gambling, pilfering, lying, every vice, in 

 short, which is compatible with utter want of any thing 

 like moral sense, deep shrewdness, and uncommon coward- 

 ice. 



"He cut his throat once — you may see the sear now — 

 in a fit of delirium tremens, and Tom Draw, who, though 

 he is perpetually cursing him for the most lying critter 

 under heaven, has, I believe, a sort of fellow feeling for 

 him — nursed him and got him well; and ever since he 

 has hung about here, getting at times a coimtry stallion 

 to look after, at others hunting, or fishing, or doing little 

 jobs about the stable, for which Tom gives him plenty of 



