112 SPORTING ADVENTURES OF 



well on it that lie had four hunters standing not a 

 hundred miles from the Angel at Islington. Thither 

 he used to go of an evening on the 'hus to his snug 

 little chambers, to which was attached a capital 

 stable with four loose boxes, and in these four boxes 

 stood four decentish nags. I don't know that they 

 were reliable fencers, but they could gallop ; they 

 were bang up to the mark — well done, well groomed, 

 and well clothed. 



Frank Cropper was proud of his horses, and his 

 stud-groom, Dick, was his right hand in all matters. 

 Dick, though he professed to have a profound know- 

 ledge of horses, in reality knew nothing about them, 

 and had to thank his strappers for the condition and 

 fettle they were in. 



But Dick was great at getting up leathers and 

 top boots, was extremely fond of dress, turned out 

 well, and though he could not ride a yard, led every 

 one to believe he was invincible in the saddle. 



He was grand when he used to dodge about in 

 the lanes after the Puddleton currant-jelly dogs, 

 riding his master's second horse. Cropper thought 

 it the correct thing to have out a second horse with 

 the harriers. No one ever saw Cropper or his man 

 take a fence ; they used to gallop through places or 

 fences that had been smashed by some one before 

 them, or creep through gaps made in hedges. 



