THE horse's hESCUE. 87 



fault ; the butcher was gone before either of them 

 touched him. He was in the last stases. The last 

 time I shod him I well knew it. I told Mr. Bennett I 

 could remove the cause of all his trouble in four days, 

 take all of the air-puffs off his forward legs, and 

 straighten his legs. How is that to be done? Make 

 him natural. Put the colt's foot on him. Mr. Brees 

 says that cannot be done. It must be if he is cured. 

 Of course there was lots of money to be bet. I was 

 ready for that. I offered to bet one hundred to ten — 

 five hundred to fifty dollars — I could do it. No 

 takers. Lots of talk. Ko help for the poor horse. I 

 did not get him that time. He was led back into the 

 stable to suffer. Do you know, 1 could not sleep 

 nights. T must have that horse in some way. I talked 

 and figured in all shapes. All were fighting; called 

 me crazy ; some called me a damned fool. I well 

 knew if I told them what I intended to do I would not 

 get him. I passed the stable going to my shop daily. 

 I called to see Mike ; his sufferings were intense — 

 growing worse every da}^ As I was passing along 

 b}'' the barn Mr. Bennett said : 



" Doan, I guess I shall have to let you have that 

 horse." 



"All right." 



"Now, if you do not cure him you will not charge 

 me much ?"' 



"No ; I will leave that to your honor. I want him 

 for an advertisement." 



" What securit}^ am I to have if you injure the 

 horse ?" 



" How much do vou call him worth ?" 



