A BARGAIN. 207 



Ledger, two tliousand guineas, &c., he is a su- 

 perior speedy and stout race-liorse for such dis- 

 tances ; but after going fifteen minutes across 

 country, might very possibly show himself as rank 

 a cur as ever went under a saddle ; few horses 

 "will cur it till in distress, more or less. The dif- 

 ference between a stout or weak horse is there- 

 fore, how soon, in accordance with the pace, dis- 

 tress begins. Racing stoutness is so very different 

 to the same quality in a hunter, that we can 

 judge very little indeed of what sort of hunter a 

 horse will turn out from his blood, unless where a 

 thorough-bred horse has shown his stock to be 

 good as hunters ; and of late years, when long 

 lengths have become almost exploded, the winner 

 of races is a far more uncertain sire to produce 

 hunters than he was when heats and four miles 

 were in vogue. Thus, you see, my horse at the 

 time he was bought was really no better bargain 

 than yours." 



" I allow the justice of all you say," said my 

 friend, "but that little bit of extra speed flits 

 before my eyes at this moment. Come, 1^11 give 

 fifty for it, that is, fifty between the horses." 



(( Very well,'' said I ; "as you now know all 

 about my horse you shall have him." 



"I dare say," said my friend, "you will pick 

 up such another bargain as you did in the horse 

 I have bousfht." 



