312 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



quested me to show him the log ; which I did. He then 

 ran back to the tavern, and challenged the company to 

 bet a gallon of rum that he could not draw the log 

 fairly on to the logway, at three pulls, with his colt. 

 The challenge was promptly accepted; and, each hav- 

 ing "taken a glass," the whole company went down to 

 the spot. 



'"Arrived on the ground, Evans says, "I am ashamed 

 to hitch my horse to a little log like that ; but, if three 

 of you will get on and ride, if I don't draw it I will 

 forfeit the rum." Acco^ingly, three of those least able 

 to stand were placed upon the log. I was present with 

 a lantern, and cautioned those on the log to look out 

 for their legs, as I had seen the horse draw before, and 

 knew something had got to come. At the word of 

 command the horse started log and men, and went 

 more than half of the distance before stopping. At the 

 next pull he landed his load at the spot agreed upon, 

 to the astonishment of all present. 



" 'Not many days after this, the beaten party proposed 

 to Evans to run a certain horse against his, eighty rods, 

 for another gallon. Evans accepted; went from his 

 work, and matched his horse against four different 

 horses the same evening, and beat them all with ease.' 



" Thus, early in the history of the Morgan horse, it 

 was an admitted fact, that, however small, he could not 

 be beaten where strength, speed, and endurance were 

 the test. When we see this same animal driven in har- 

 ness, or ridden by the aged and infirm with perfect 



