HOW TO MAKE MONEY BY HOESES. 199 



menting the owner on the condition of his horses, 

 which I could conscientiously do, for it was first-rate ; 

 I then admired the sort ; this I also did with truth 

 on my side, for a better sort, take the four together, 

 it -u'ould be difficult to find. I had them stripped. 

 I felt them — no horses could be better ; their muscle 

 firm and elastic ; thus far, all was as it should be. 

 Observing the horse I looked at had a pair, or rather 

 two fore legs, on which he stood somewhat shaky, 

 the one savouring very much of relaxed sinews, I 

 took no notice of them, out of compliment to my 

 host ; but I suppose he caught my eye, as it scanned 

 the failing. ''Ah," said he, "the bangs and bruises 

 they get in hunting will show, but he is as sound as 

 a trout. I would not take a hundred and fifty for 

 him." Coming away, I cast my eye on a very good 

 imitation of a curb. " Oh," said he, "I see you are 

 looking at his hock ; he threw that out the begin- 

 ning of the season ; but it is of no consequence, it 

 does not interfere with his work, and at the end of 

 the season we shall set that all to rights." 



Now here was a man fancying he had near five 



