16 CONFESSIONS OF A HOUSE DEALEB. 



frequently had to be touched with the spurs, when the 

 stumpy apology for a tail would wriggle and twist like 

 a new- caught snig, and this always increased the mirth 

 of the gaping crowd, who invariably collect on the ap- 

 pearance of soldiers in a provincial town. 



From Hounslow the regiment marched to York, and 

 there old Jocko was cast with a lot more worn-out screws, 

 to be sold by auction in the usual manner, a gang of 

 copers being the principal purchasers, the average price 

 realized being about 6 each. The copers fastened a 

 wig (false tail) on old Jocko's stump, by means of spring 

 wires, which not only gave him a more juvenile appear- 

 ance, but disguised his plain quarters and capped hocks. 

 The brand was filed out of his hoofs, and he was then 

 put up to be raffled for fifty guineas, as the lona fide pro- 

 perty of a gentleman having no further use for him. He 

 was won by a brewer, who said he would keep him for 

 his own riding. Having a journey due the morning 

 after the raffle, he mounted Jocko ; but had not pro- 

 ceeded far before some boys told him that " his horse's 

 tail had cumm'd off." " How rude these children are," 

 said he, as he pushed Jocko into a trot, and left them far 

 behind. His journey lay the way to the barracks, and 

 old Jocko took his rider at a rasping gallop into the yard, 

 when the regiment was parading, before marching off 

 for field drill. 



" Hi, hi, where are you going there ?" shouted the 

 sentry at the front gate, as Jocko, with his unwilling 

 rider, crashed past him. " Hi, hi," shouted the Corporal 



