250 THE TROTTING-IIORSE OF JifEJilCA 



pie in bright mornings, as well in Washington Hollow a!« 

 everywhere else, j^assed between the drover and our good 

 friend of Washington Hollow ; and presently IVIr. Vielee had 

 the little bay mare by the nose, and was studying every 

 mark upon her teeth. He then took hold of her feet ; and 

 the little mare lifted them successively in his hand with a 

 quiet, downward glance, that seemed to say, " You'll find 

 every thing right there, Mr. Yielee, and as fair and as firm 

 as if you wished me to trot for a man's life ! " And so Mr. 

 Vielee did ; and, as he dropped the last foot, he liked the 

 promise of the little mare amazingly ; and it struck him, that, 

 if he could get her for any sum short of $250, she would 

 be a mighty good bargain. 



"She is about five years old?" said Mr. Vielee, inquir- 

 ingly- 



" You have seen for yourself," replied the drover. 



" I should judge she was all right ? " again suggested 

 Mr. Vielee, partly walking round the mare, and again look- 

 ing at her up and down. 



"Sound as a dollar, and kind as a kitten," responded the 

 drover, as firmly as if prepared to give a written guarantee. 



" iS'ot alwaj^s so Jcl?id, neither, " said Mr. Vielee, looking 

 again steadily at the mare's face ; " or I don't understand 

 that deviltry in her eye. But that's neither here nor there : 

 you say the mare is for sale. Now, let's know what you'll 

 take for her." 



This inquiry of Mr. Vielee's was the opening of a highly 

 scientific display of dijjlomacy between him and the rider 

 of the gray stallion ; which, after lasting some three-quarters 

 of an hour, during whii:h the little bay mare was put 

 through all her paces in one of Mr. Vielee's wagons, result- 

 ed in her passing permanently from the halter at tlie tail 

 of the wagon into the possession of Mr. Jonathan Vielee, 

 for the sum of $175. 



" And a pretty good price at that," said the drover to 

 himself, on pocketing the cash, " for an animal that only 



