A SHARP SPORTSMAN. 83 



deal at a house near Palbridge Towers, his 

 father's place, and so could not help knowing 

 a good deal about this ingenious youth. 



One morning, early in the hunting season, 

 hounds met at the White Mill, about five miles 

 from the house where I was staying, and some 

 four from the Towers, which we had to pass ; 

 and my host had agreed to call and pick up 

 Fearstone and his friends in passing. 



As it happened, I had been up early in the 

 morning to get some birds which I wanted to 

 send away ; and this being done, and breakfast 

 happily despatched, we mounted and set off. 

 On reaching the Towers, we found the horses 

 being led up and down, and their riders at the 

 door lighting cigars and cigarettes preparatory 

 to starting. Fearstone is a long, dark-haired, 

 smooth-faced young man of five and twenty ; 

 and he was about to get into the saddle of a 

 big bay mare with very queer fore legs, when he 

 paused, and said casually, '' Which way shall we 

 go this morning ? ' ' 



" Why, my dear fellow, what a question to 

 ask ! " said Flutterton, who was staying in the 

 same house as myself, and had a tolerably 

 intimate acquaintance with the country. ' ' Which 

 way should we go ? Past the pike, through the 

 old deer forest, and out again in the lane not 



