IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 95 



sense. The dealer was obviously speculating on a 

 purchaser in one of those youths, and seemed 

 nettled at my narrow scrutiny, which threatened to 

 disappoint his designs. 



"Tom," he said to his ostler, "go to the tailor's, 

 and borrow his measure and shears for the gentle- 

 man." 



"And stop at the saddler's on your way, Tom, 

 and buy a halter for your master !" 



The retort told, coarse and trite as it was, and 

 I was allowed to finish my scrutiny in peace. I 

 detected no serious enlargement of the joint, but 

 I found a scar behind the pastern, just under the 

 fetlock, which implied that the horse had been 

 "nerved;" and the man admitted it; but I must 

 honestly confess that I had been unable to discover 

 it by his action ; and it was for this reason, perhaps, 

 that he had counted upon me as a fair subject of 

 ridicule. 



The examination of the leg and back sinews, is 

 a very important branch of a purchaser's duty, 

 and generally far less difficult to perform success- 

 fully than either that of the foot or the fetlock joint. 

 Permanent injury to the leg is not easily concealed. 



