38 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEA.LEB. 



(with this the coper pinched the vertebras of the horse's 

 back with his finger and thumb just on the seat of in- 

 jury on the arch of his loins and the poor animal 

 suddenly cringed until his belly nearly touched the 

 ground), this is the place where his back is chinked. I 

 have known this horse for four years,, and he has been 

 bought and sold at every fair in the kingdom. Long 

 Jack has made a little fortune by him, one way or other, 

 although he seldom offers him for sale himself, except to 

 a plumb butt fool/ " 



"Then he's not the Yicar of ." 



" Vicar of blazes, more like !" 



" I'll go back to the fair, and give him in charge for 

 swindling me." 



" You need not trouble yourself. He is miles away 

 before now ; I saw him off myself." 



" And what do you want with the horse, since you 

 ay he is of so little value ?" 



" I've been trying to get hold of him for the last six 

 months, for a young veterinary surgeon, who wants to 

 slaughter him for examination." 



" Are you a horse-dealer ?" 



" Well, I'll be candid with you, I'm not what people 

 generally call a horse-dealer ; I'm a horse-coper." 



" What's a horse-coper?" 



" One who gets money in any way he can, so that he 

 keeps clear of the everlasting staircase." 



" What's that ?" 



" The treadmill. We all deal in wide, roarers, pipers, 



