26 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



animal. He was offered to me for fifty guineas ; the 

 price was certainly moderate for a horse of such ex- 

 traordinary appearance, and I promptly and thank- 

 fully accepted the offer. He was brought home in 

 high condition, and I immediately set him to work. 

 For about a week all went on well ; I never was so 

 gaily mounted in my life ; I might have sold the 

 horse ten times over for double the money, but I was 

 too well pleased with my bargain. 



At the expiration of a week my groom began to 

 look crusty, and told me with a very long face that 

 he must be ill, for he refused his corn. I desired 

 hira to wash out the manger. " I have, Sir, but it 

 won't do." 



'' Perhaps the corn is musty ?" 



" It can't be that. Sir, for it only came in yester- 

 day, and he won't touch the hay any more than the 

 oats." 



I tried him with the sweetest corn I could buy, 

 and every variety of hay, but in vain ; for three days 

 he eat nothing. I sent him to the Veterinary Col- 

 lege : his teeth were found to be sharp, and they 

 were filed down ; no other fault could be discovered ; 

 I took him home again, but feed he would not. I 



