clear, Captain Hartopp came round to the drag, 

 had a wash and his face plastered up a bit, and 

 enjoyed himself as if nothing had occurred. I was 

 awfully sorry to see him in such a plight. I could 

 only just get over to the other side after it had 

 happened, but he said to me : 



" Oh, never mind, Cus ; there are more days than 

 one, and I will give that black gentleman something 

 for this." 



I believe he carried out his word one night 

 afterwards at Nat Langham's. 



Tom Olliver, the trainer of 'Ely,' * Fairwater,' 

 * Albert Victor,' and other good horses, was an extra- 

 ordinary man in more ways than one. He was the 

 finest steeplechase jockey of his day ; I had the late 

 Jem Mason's word for it myself, and there could be 

 no better authority. Curiously enough, old Tom 

 told me times without number that Jem Mason was 

 the best man he ever saw over fences, but he was 

 not quite such an artist at the finish as, I suppose, 

 Tom was. Olliver was the very best company I 

 €ver met. He was very witty, and made the most 

 original remarks of any man I ever knew. His 

 good-natured, fine-featured face, with the merry 

 laugh and wicked twinkle in his " two lovely black 

 eyes," was quite a treat to look at. Many an hour 



6 



