64 HORSE-DEALING 



" Ten pounds," was the reply. 



I immediately concluded something was wrong, as he 

 looked like a five-and-thirty pounds' horse. 



" He's not a kicker ? " I said. 



" You can't make him kick," was the reply. 



I was almost ashamed to say, " You won't warrant him 

 quiet, I suppose ? " 



" You can't expect it, at that price ; but all I have told 

 you is true." 



" Then I'll have him," I said. 



I observed a titter on the lips of the stablemen as I 

 followed him into the house to give him the money, when . 

 the seller candidly told me that he had given thirty 

 i^ounds for the horse, and had sold him two or three 

 times for more money ; but he had always been returned, 

 as he would not go in harness. Not very well satisfied 

 with my bargain, I walked away, desiring him to send 

 the horse round to the " Roebuck." 



Early the next morning I borrowed a break, harnessed 

 him, and put him to with another horse, but he would 

 not move ; and, touching him with the whip, he reared 

 right on end, then threw himself down, and there lay. 

 At this I scratched my head, and thought it was a bad 

 case, when my friend who had kindly put me up to this 

 great bargain called to me and said, " Master, master, 

 light a truss of straw and put it under him ! " Nothing 

 loth to make trial of such a remedy, as I had heard of 

 it before, though I had never seen it practised, and there 

 not being many people about, as it was early in the 

 morning, we unbuckled his traces, got him out, and with 

 the other horse drew the break out in the corn market, 



