308 THE horse's rescue. 



cause of their talking so was they had become so 

 accustomed to driving and using stiff horses they did 

 not know when they were stiff. While I was in this 

 place battling for the horse, brother Oliver got back in 

 liis old place in the rear of Joseph's hack stable, there 

 to tr}^ it again. We met often and talked the matter 

 over, and to compare notes, so as to see bow the battle 

 was going. We thought we were gaining slowly. Of 

 course all of the shoers were on our backs, and veteri- 

 narians the same. The last time I saw Oliver we were 

 riding after a horse that had been laid up for six 

 months unable to work. He had had this horse only 

 a few days. He was now able to sail and keep doing 

 it, and grow better for it. He told me he was able to 

 cure these horses yet, and carry twelve men on his 

 back, if they did not drag their feet on the ground too 

 much. After I had been at Fleming Hill six months 

 I saw a very fine young dapple gray stallion pass my 

 pltxce of business. I saw he was badly oS. on his for- 

 ward feet. 



I soon learned he was owned by a man in Auburn, 

 He was kept near me during the summer. I saw him 

 many times. I saw he was getting worse all the time. 

 I did not mention this to any one. It was no use. I 

 would not be allowed to touch him ; besides, I did not 

 want to get my old wounds torn open anew ; but I 

 watched the horse. In the fall he was so crippled he 

 could hardly get along. I learned he was formerly 

 owned by D. M. Osborn &Co , and had become almost 

 useless. They must get rid of this horse in some 

 way. He is of no kind of use to us. Orin H. Bur- 

 dick, of thaafirm, bought him. What he paid for him 



