ESQ. 101 



the " Bell's Life " was the Captain's. The Captain 

 always came of a Sunday for a chat and look 

 through the kennels ; and the Captain was one of 

 the very few of the hunt who could ride. He always 

 gave Slowman a fiver at the end of the season, and 

 many good tips besides ; so he was a prime favourite 

 with the huntsman. 



" Good evening, good evening, Captain," said 

 Slowman, going to the door. " Come in, sir. Here, 

 Thumas — Bill — Jim — some of you come here and 

 take the Captain's horse. Throw a couple of rugs 

 over him and put him in the four-stall stable, take 

 his bridle off, and give him a feed of corn." 



" Now, sir, come in," as the Captain descended 

 from his hack and gave it to one of the lads. " I 

 was just having a smoke, sir, and a glass of gin-and- 

 water — your gin, sir ; and good it is, too." 



" That's right, Slowman. And I don't care if I 

 take one with you. It's devilish cold, but no frost. 

 I want to have a talk with you about to-morrow." 



Taking the arm-chair, he mixed himself a glass 

 of liquor, and lit a cigar. 



" Slowman," he commenced, " there's the devil's 

 own lot of people coming to-morrow. There's Jack 

 Spraggon, from Lord Scamperdale's hunt. He's sent 

 on Daddy Longlegs, his Lordship's best horse, and 

 another; so he means going. Jealous devil he is, 



