ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 155 



Happy ThoKght.—''^ If I had an animal what wouldn't go, 

 wouldn't I wallop him," if I hadn't broken my whip. But 

 we are at his mercy. I can only guide him. His drowsiness 

 becomes almost infectious. If there were before us six 

 miles of it instead of barely one, I feel sure we should all 

 three be fast asleep ; I mean the horse, Murgle, and myself. 

 He doesn't attempt to lie down. He walks on — and on — 

 and on — like a ghost. Or— he is fast asleep. 



Happy Thoitglit. — The Somnambulist horse. 



Murgle^s Happy Thought. — " He's a slug, that's what he 

 is." 



]\Iurgle is right. The Grey is a slug. I want a horse, not 

 a slug. Got lots of slugs in the garden. They go if you 

 give them salt. No amount of salt on his tail would make 

 this Grey go. Home once more. The man who brought the 

 horse has not yet left, so I tell him that I want him to ride 

 the Grey back to \lx. Jclfer, and give him this note : — 



" Dear Jelfer, — I do not want to go sixteen miles an 

 hour, or win a trotting match, but I do wish to go out of a 

 walk soviet inies — and I don't want to have to break yj:;//;- or 

 five whips over a slug-s back in the course of half a mile. I 

 want something that can go — something that can catch a 

 traifi. If you can't supply me with that, send me the differ- 

 ence in a cheque, Yours, &;c.'' 



The Grey leaves. I am horseless. Jelfer will have two 



