of advice
to give you," he said. "This prank is harmless enough, but establish a
definite understanding with this fellow that you are not to be liable in
damages for personal injuries which his Indians may receive. Explain to
him that it is not child's play and have him put it in writing."

"You mean to have him execute a kind of release?" said Mr. Carteret.

"Precisely that," said the Major. "I was once sued for twenty pounds by
a groom that fell off my best hunter and let him run away, and damme,
the fellow recovered." He bowed to the ladies and left the room.

"Of course we can fix all that up," said Lord Frederic. "The old chap is
a bit over cautious nowadays, but how can we get hold of this fellow
Grady?"

"I'll wire him at once, if you wish," said Mr. Carteret, and he went to
the writing table.

"When do you want him to come down?" he asked, as he wrote the address.

"We might take them out with the Pytchley on Saturday," said Lord
Frederic, "but the meet is rather far from our station. Perhaps it would
be better to have them on Thursday with Charley Ploversdale's hounds."

Mr. Carteret hesitated a moment. "Wouldn't Ploversdale be apt to be
fussy about experiments? He's rather conservative, you know, about the
way people are turned out. I saw him send a man home one day who was out
without a hat. It was an American who was afraid that his hair was
coming out."

"Pish," said Lord Frederic, "Charley Ploversdale is mild as a dove."

"Suit yourself," said Mr. Carteret. "I'll make it Thursday. One more
question," he added. "How many shall I ask him to bring down?" At this
moment the Major came into the room again. He had mislaid his
eyeglasses.

"I should think that a dozen would be about the right number," said Lord
Frederic, replying to Mr. Carteret. "It would be very imposing."

"Too many!" said the Major. "We must mount them on good horses and I
don't want my entire stable ruined by men who have never lepped a
fence."

"I think the Major is right about the matter of numbers," said Mr.
Carteret. "How would three do?"

"Make it three," said the Major.

Before dinner was over a reply came from Grady saying that he and three
bucks would be pleased to arrive Thursday morning prepared for a hunting
party.

This took place on Monday, and at various times during Tuesday and
Wednesday, Mr. Carteret gave the subject thought. By Thursday morning
his views had ripened. He ordered his tea and eggs to be serve