154 The Trotter. 



West. It was a treat to see the way in which he walked up to a horse j 

 and if the roller or the body clothing was the least out of place or 

 deranged, how soon his keen eye detected it, and his hand set it 

 right. It was, moreover, a treat to see how every dumb animal 

 about these premises loved him, and how they recognised him 

 directly they saw him. The old mastiff bayed out his honest wel- 

 come, the little terrier came bounding up to greet him, the foxes 

 tugged at the end of their chains to reach him, even the old 

 " S m S er pile" flapped his wings and sent forth a shrill crow of 

 defiance, as if he recollected who had handled him in his last 

 main. The pigeons seemed as if they would almost settle on his 

 shoulder ; and, as for old Morgan, as soon as he ever heard the well- 

 known voice, he sent forth a wild neigh of delight, as much as to 

 say, "I am quite ready if you are." Ah, well, I thought, this man 

 is not half so bad as he has been represented. There must be some 

 good in that heart dumb animals and children never make mis- 

 takes. As we were walking to the stables, the captain asked me 

 whether I had brought the little mare over ; and on my answering 

 " No," 



" Pity," he remarked j "we might have had a mile spin with old 

 Morgan ; it would have amused Sam. He does not seem in good 

 spirits." 



And many others had made the same remark during the last ten 

 days 5 for since the day on which he had handed over that bill of sale 

 to the captain, giving him the power to seize every horse he had at 

 a day's notice, the squire had been an altered man, though no one, 

 not even his wife, knew the exact cause, although many guessed it. 

 His farms were well let; and although the estate, over which he 

 had unlimited control, was mortgaged, there was always sufficient 

 left to maintain him, and respectably, too, with care, after the 

 interest was paid. Moreover, the railroad was about to run right 

 through the heart of his estate. His compensation would have 

 been something handsome, and he could have struggled on against 

 his just debts till this compensation money would have set him free. 

 His principal creditor was the captain, and the greater part of the 



