262 Did you ever Drive a Jibber down to a Fight 



saddle. "In course I've no objection," said the man, "if the 

 Capten hasn't j but although the horse you're going to have to- 

 morrow is an out-and-out saddle horse, I'd hardly trust him myself 

 in harness. However, if the Capten's made his mind up, there's 

 nothing to be said ; but I should recommend you if you do mean 

 driving down, to take a saddle that you may ' ride and tie ' home 

 (I fancy I see the Capten at this game !" added the fellow with a 

 g r i n ) an d a ' sack' to bring the new dog-cart back in." 



"Why, what's .the matter with the horse?" I asked 5 "is he a 

 bolter !" " Oh, not by no means $ he'll never run away with you in 

 harnish! you'll only be lucky if you get him along, for a ranker jibber 

 I never put between the shafts!" And the fellow wound up by 

 giving me a bit of most sensible advice, holding me all the while 

 fast by the button, and speaking in a slow and distinct tone. " If 

 you're determined upon letting the Capten drive you down, mind 

 that he stands all repairs. If you risk the horse, let him risk the 

 cart. I'm not much afeerd of harm coming to the hoss, but I 

 would not give much for the shafts of the new dog-cart if he do 

 take to jibbing as I have seen him. My word ! I fancy I see the 

 Capten if he do begin ! Well, he must be a hawful man sure/?/ to 

 think of taking a beautiful new dog-cart like that" (we were 

 standing just against it) " down to a fight of all places, with a hoss of 

 which he knows nought! Why, it was only this afternoon he 

 almost blew my head off because a little scratch come on one of the 

 panels !" 



I went back to the Capten, and told him exactly as the ostler had 

 told me ; but he was then in his third glass of brandyrand-water, 

 and not in the humour for being dissuaded from any project on 

 which he had set his mind. If that was all the matter with the 

 horse, he did not care. He never yet saw the jibber which he 

 could not shove along ; and as the landlord, who was drinking with 

 him, did not give the horse half so bad a character as the man had 

 done, he willingly agreed to stand all repairs if anything happened 

 to the dog-cart ; and we arranged to start at eight next morning. 



The Capten was certainly an excellent whip, and if he prided 



