100 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



a good season, and the masters determined that they 

 would be even more lavish than usual. 



Great were the preparations made when it was 

 known that the neighbouring hunts were coming in 

 force to see them, and have one more gallop before 

 they put their beloved pinks away in lavender. 



Slowman, the huntsman, the evening before the 

 eventful day, had gone through the kennels, made 

 his draft for the following morning, looked to the 

 stables, and given orders about the horses and other 

 little matters pertaining to his craft. 



He was seated by his cosy fire, and in a cosy 

 arm-chair, puffing meditatively at a churchwarden, 

 and now and then taking a sip from a glass of hot 

 gin-and-water that stood at his elbow. " Bell's 

 Life " was at his feet, and before the fire lay a 

 couple of varmint-looking fox-terriers. Slowman 

 was thoroughly enjoying himself, and wondering if 

 the six-acred oak spinny which they were to draw 

 first the next morning would hold a good stout fox. 



" John," said his wife, bustling into the room, 

 " Captain Martaingail wishes to know if he can see 

 you an instant : he is on his horse at the door." 



" Lord bless me, Mary ! surely," sticking his feet 

 into his slippers and rushing to the front door. The 

 Captain was a favourite of his. The gin he was 

 drinking was a present to him from the Captain ; 



