8o JUSTIN MORGAN 



True heard all this as he stood cropping grass near at 

 hand. When they ceased speaking he came and rubbed 

 his nose on Evans' shoulder reassuringly, as he often did 

 in his affectionate, demonstrative way. 



At this moment the strangers joined them, and True 

 recognized the Coxcomb as he swaggered forward, tap- 

 ping his tall boots with a beautiful riding whip. Spurs 

 gleamed on his heels and his insolent manner was in 

 strong contrast to the sim.ple bearing of the straight- 

 forward farmer's. 



At a glance, Morgan had seen it would be no great 

 feat to beat the Ethan Allen horses, but he also saw 

 with the same quick glance that the New York horse 

 was to be reckoned with ; he was evidently accustomed 

 to successes on the course. 



When the races were arranged, Evans removed the 

 dangling plow-harness from True's back. At sight of 

 him without it the strangers seemed to be more amused 

 than ever. Their contemptuous remarks affronted Evans. 



'Tix up your bets," he called out a moment later, im- 

 patiently, seeing how uncomfortable True was with his 

 cumbersome saddle and coarse bit. 'T want to get home- 

 along." 



He spoke as if he were so sure of winning that it was 

 but the question of a moment or so. 



His tone irritated the Coxcomb. He came forward. 



''Odd brute that," he sneered, ''to put against horses 

 that have won on The Plains of Abraham. But I sup- 

 pose the fun of the races will make up to you for your 

 losses. Why, this is nothing but a Canadian scrub !" 



True shook himself in disgust. To be called a strid- 

 ing Canadian. A horse who travels with purposed ex- 

 ertion, while he glided over the ground with scarce an 

 effort. A Canadian scrub, indeed, a horse whose thick 

 nostrils speak of low birth and whose flat sides and thick 



