236 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



Crane was aware that the duke was partial to him as a servant*, for, in 

 delicate but not incomprehensible terms, he signified as much in his 

 letter; and he likewise expressed his high regard for his Grace, as well 

 as his gratitude for the favours he had received from him, — his discharge 

 from the army one of them. But the fact was, Crane was still more 

 partial to his hounds, and expressed a strong desire to go with them, — 

 leaving, however, that point entirely to the decision of Sir Richard 

 Puleston, with the assurance that, if he thought he ought not to quit the 

 service of his Grace, nothing should tempt him to do so, unless it were 

 his Grace's pleasure. 



Crane, however, did go to Lord Stewart with the hounds ; and several 

 good anecdotes are related of him in Fife, during his career with his 

 lordship, as well as that with the duke. Amongst them, the following 

 may not be thought unworthy of being recorded. During the Peninsular 

 war, the opposing armies were in front of each other, but no active ope- 

 rations going on. Of course the line of demarcation between them was 

 drawn out, and Crane was told of the consequences that might be the 

 result, if his ardour in following his hounds led him within the enemy's 

 lines. It, however, did one day lead him within them, being determined 

 to follow his hounds ; nor did he retire until two shots were fired at him 

 by the videts ! So much for the enthusiasm of a sportsman. On another 

 occasion, when with Lord Stewart, he was told he ought not to ride before 

 the King of France, (Charles X.) with whose hounds he was in the 



* On peace being restored, the duke took Crane into his service again, and he had 

 the care of his Grace's stud, then kept at Hatfield, in Herts, with permission to ride 

 them whenever he liked. It was here that he married his wife, a daughter of the 

 Marquess of Salisbury's steward ; but preferring hunting to following hounds, he 

 applied for and procured the situation of huntsman to the fife pack. 



