20 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DE1LEH. 



" No fear of that, sir, I'll give you my word and 

 honour/' said the coper. 



" I should like to see him jump," said the gentle- 

 man. 



" Jump ! oh, yes. Saddle him, Joe." 



The coper fixed a pole across a portion of the yard 

 about five or six feet high, then placed the wheelbarrow 

 and rolled a water-cask under the bar, and bearing a 

 little to the taking off side. The horse (who never 

 rose at a jump since he was foaled) was led up to the 

 gentleman. 



"Now, sir," said the coper, "jump on his back, and 

 he'll take you over this rasper cleverly ; he is like a 

 flea, sir, he can jump more'rn his own height." 



" I would rather see you or the lad take him over, as 

 I am not very well to-day." 



" "Why, you see as how my lad has always been in a 

 harness-room till very recently, and I don't think he 

 ever jumped a horse in his life, did you, Joe ?" said the 

 coper, addressing Joe. 



" Never/' said that worthy, looking very sly. 



"And for myself, I never jump horses now, for the 

 last time I fell and broke two of my ribs get on him 

 yourself, sir ; do you think I'd risk him at such a bull- 

 finch as this on hard ground, if I were not quite sure 

 he could top it in style r" 



"I'd rather not jump him to-day," said the cus- 

 tomer. 



"Well, sir/ 1 said the coper, "you may take my word 



