RUBY. 45 



cheap ; but he is not the kind of horse I sup- 

 posed he was; he ought to work in a mule- 

 team." 



" Well now, Colonel, mebbe he is ; but you 

 can't never tell nothin' about a hoss till you 

 get him between ye ; and I reckon he 's a con- 

 sid'able of a hoss, I reckon he is." 



Ike was wise, in his way, and his way was a 

 very horsy one, — so my hopes revived a little ; 

 and when Gluckmansklegge came up on a capi- 

 tal little beast he had been handling (secretly 

 to replace the Fuchs), I had the new venture 

 saddled and brought round. He came blunder- 

 ing along, head and ears and tail down, and 

 stood like a leathern horse for me to mount, 

 Gluckmansklegge dropping his eye-glass and grin- 

 ning. It was as well to find out first as last 

 whether he had anything in him or not, and I 

 gathered up the curb-rein, which brought his 

 head into superb position and settled him well 

 back upon his haunches ; but, as the movement 

 had been made with dignity, I gave him both 

 heels, firmly, — when we went sailing ! — how 



