SGBAPPER. 99 



approaches him, and the howls redouble, so he gives him one 

 parting shake which draws fresh cries of anguish from the 

 blusterer of a minute ago, and then continues his journey, 

 slouching along as before, and looking anything but a con- 

 quering hero. The four-year-old has broken nothing. Peter 

 Jackson sees the canine tornado disappearing round the 

 bend, limps out of the ditch, meekly hobbles after the 

 butcher's cart, and peace and quietness reigns opposite the 

 HolHes once more. 



" I thought you'd cop it when you met Scrapper," remarks 

 Copper Nob. "Yer won't be so keen o' tackling 'im next 

 time yer meet." 



This was the usual thing with Scrapper; he passed all 

 dogs, and all dogs passed him, without the slightest sign of 

 recognition. When a new one came there was a row sooner 

 or later, always ending in the same way, and things once 

 more went on as before. 



Scrapper was not a beauty ; he was a bit too leggy to start 

 with, was rather ragged about the hips, part of one ear was 

 missing, and sundry bits of skin as well, from various parts 

 of his face and body ; moreover, his movements were not 

 graceful, and his hang-dog expression as he slouched along — 

 that expression which was so deceptive to dogs new to the 

 neighbourhood — convinced many old ladies that he was 

 mad, and most people that he was a surly, ill-tempered, but 

 cowardly brute. 



One person, and one person only, woke Scrapper's dormant 

 spirit into life, and that was his mistress, a dainty little maid 

 of eighteen. At her approach vScrapper was another animal ; 

 he leapt to his feet with an energy that otherwise was 

 only displayed when his patience was completely ex- 

 hausted, and a fight was forced upon him. Scrapper's 

 eyes were then full of expression, full of love and devotion 

 to the frail young thing, whose tiny white hand his rough 



