58 



CHAPTER VI. 



A FEW days after their drive to the Green Dragon, Sir 

 John, being in want of a coach-horse, asked Mr. Good- 

 bery to accompany him to a dealer's yard about five 

 miles' drive from Buckskin Hall, to see what sort of 

 horses he has to show them. On the road the old 

 squire is full of anecdote. 



" You must know," says he, " Jim Brown, the man 

 whose horses we are going to see, is a * character,' and 

 prides himself on always telling the truth, and further- 

 more never having bought a horse, however vicious, 

 without having been able to tame him. So successful 

 has he been that he has gained for himself the 

 sobriquet of the Calmer. 



" He certainly has had some queer horses in my 

 recollection. Years ago he purchased a horse called 

 Ginger, from a miller. This horse was so confirmed 

 a rearer that no one could do anything with him ; he 

 was also very dangerous in the stable. But directly 

 Brown heard that the miller was anxious to sell he 

 made a bid of a ten-pound note and got him. AVhen 

 they went to fetch their new purchase the groom was 

 nowhere to be found. On further enquiry it transpired 

 that he was in bed, having been savaged by the horse 

 whilst feeding him. So there was no one to put a 

 bridle on him and lead him out. At last they got hold 

 of a mill hand who had been attending the horse in a 

 sort of a way during the groom's illness. ' I 



