2 42 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



CHAPTER XVII. 



STORIES OF DEALERS AND DUPES. 



SOME rare stories are told of the way in which dealers 

 cheat their customers. Here are a few of them : 



c My first horse-dealing adventure was with a 

 Quaker, and I approached the owner of the first 

 object of my speculation with much confidence. It 

 was a well-bred, gay little gelding, full of life and 

 spirit; I approved and purchased him. Friend Joseph 

 was very precise with me. "There is the horse, 

 friend ; my price is thirty guineas." 



' " Will you allow me to try him, sir ? " 



Thou art a stranger to me, friend ; thou mayst 

 injure the animal, and we shall not know who is in 

 fault." 



c " Will you warrant him, sir ? " 



* " He has always carried me well, friend ; I 

 believe him to be sound, but few men are agreed 

 upon what soundness is." 



( " Is thirty guineas the lowest price ? " 



' <f I have asked thee what I believe to be his just 

 value, and I shall take no less." 



