PUECHASINa HOHSES. 67 



given twenty-seveu for him ; if you want him for 

 anybody, you may have him at five and thirty." 



*' Lor bless you, Sir ! I was thinking of offering you 

 fifteen." 



*' It's devilish lucky you did not,'* said I, smiling. 



"Why, Sir?" 



*' Because if you had, you would very likely have 

 got a punch on your head for your impertinence." 



" Beg pardon, Sir," and the little gentleman walked 

 off — he was beat. 



Now the dodge was this : this little fellow had got 

 hold of the inteUigence from some source, that the 

 horse made a little noise (and so he did, as I found 

 in his fast gallop) ; but I only bought him for har- 

 ness, and for that the failing did not show itself : 

 when I had done with him, I sold him as a match at 

 a fair price, though, as my little friend said, he was a 

 bull. Now had I been a man not at once awake to 

 the kind of trick the little gentleman wished to play 

 me, and had I not had presence of mind enough to 

 aver that I knew the horse's faihng, I should have 

 been told he would never answer my purpose, and 



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