1 6 €it for Cat. 



*'to take the 'oss back, and return the mone}^ if 

 Mowbray would not pass him." The said Mr. 

 Mowbray who, by the way, was the recognised head 

 of the profession in these parts, was accordingly 

 telegraphed to, requesting him to examine a bay 

 gelding in dispute at Mr. Horseman's next day, 

 and old Brigs drove back in his gig to Muddleton, 

 thoroughly comforted in mind, and, he thought, 

 secure in pocket also. 



It was a nasty wet morning the following, and 

 as soon as Mr. Mowbray arrived at the farm, the 

 horse was briefly introduced to him as being " under 

 dispute," Horseman adding, apparently to himself, 

 but careful that his remark was audible enough, 

 "and if you can make him make a noise, I'll eat 

 him." It was a wet morning, I said, and one very 

 unsuitable for dallying, particularly in the case of 

 a professional man of such eminence as Mr. Mow- 

 bray, who had sundry other important engagements 

 in divers directions to fulfil ; so, after a cursory 

 glance at the upstanding bay, in his well-bedded 

 box, the latter was quickly saddled, and our crack 

 Vet. soon in the pig skin, steering for the rick-yard 

 gate, which, held open by our friend, admitted him 

 to a fallow field of some magnitude, where he soon 

 commenced bucketing along through the sloppy 

 plough, as if finishing for the Derby. Never was a 



