A SHARP SPORTSMAN. 85 



*' You ought to lay me two to one," Fear- 

 stone answered. '' However, it does not matter, 

 though you may be right after all." 



Flutterton asked me to ride with him, which 

 I readily consented to do, because I had a strong 

 idea that I saw the drift of Fearstone's dodge ; 

 and our host, Brocklesby, also joined our party, 

 leaving Fearstone and his friends to follow the 

 road. We trotted to the lodge gates, and then 

 turned our horses' heads in different directions, 

 our party pointing for a narrow lane straight in 

 front of us, while the other turned to the right, 

 down the highway. 



'' The first to touch the gate-posts of the 

 mill for a hundred ! " Fearstone said. " Any 

 one else ? " 



" I'll have it for a pony," I replied. 



''And I another hundred, if you like?" 

 continues Brocklesby. 



"Yerywell. Done. Are you ready? Then 

 off! " cried Fearstone; and off we all started at 

 a good round pace, my friends and self in the 

 middle of the green lane, the others on the 

 grass at each side of the road. 



" It's all right, isn't it ? What the deuce 

 does he mean ? " Flutterton inquired, as we 

 scudded along. 



"Quite right, I should think,' Brocklesby 



