THE ELEVENTH HOUR. 115 



smell, and visibly mouldy, added to which, it had 

 all the appearance of being rowing, or aftermath. 

 There needed no further inquiry as to the cause 

 of want of condition ; and the first day I drove 

 the horse with his master, a few short hacking 

 coughs told me the vile hay had already begun its 

 usual effects, for the horse had always been since 

 I knew him most particularly clear in his wind, 

 and altogether, with the exception of very slight 

 thrushes, one of the most unequivocally sound 

 animals that had ever passed through my hands. 

 The owner expressed his fears that the horse had 

 taken cold. I had none on that point, but many 

 apprehensions on another. Had he been an in- 

 timate friend, I dare say I should have soundly 

 abused him, and his hay too ; but that not being 

 the case, I limited my anathemas to the hay. Some 

 good was then bought: the horse soon showed 

 ay, in a few days the difference of the two 

 by improved appearance ; and I trust the evil was 

 stopped in time. Had it gone on for two months, 

 if he did not eventually find he had a broken- 

 winded one, he would have had a greater share of 

 good luck than I, under such circumstances, should 

 hope for for myself. 



But mistakes are sometimes made, even by 



otherwise good managers of horses, as to what is 



the very best quality. The first proof of its 



goodness is, no doubt, its fragrant smell ; but even 



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