114 CONFESSIONS OP A HORSE DEALEK. 



himself, he went to bed perfectly sober. The sporting 

 miller acted as judge, and the parties started their re- 

 spective nags (harnessed to gigs) at the tap of a drum, 

 and away they went the mare breaking directly after 

 the start ; but catching her stride again, she led at a 

 switching pace. The butcher shouted, and tossed his 

 hat. 



" Let her go," said he, as he galloped along in the 

 rear, on a spavined hack, continuously fiddling with his 

 left persuader on the poor devil's side. 



The traveller did let her go, but still he could not 

 shake off the coper; he gave her the whip, and she 

 broke badly ; and now the coper passed her. But the 

 fine handling of the traveller again brought her down 

 to business, and again she had her nose in front : the 

 half-mile was now covered. 



" Let her go, let her go !" again shouted the butcher ; 

 but the coper thought it was now time to let Dusty Bob 

 go, and away he went, winning by more than 200 

 yards ; and waiting for the traveller coming up, he ac- 

 costed him quietly with 



" I think your mare does not go quite so fast to-day 

 as she did yesterday, or my old horse has wonderfully 

 improved. "What do you think ?" 



Traveller." Oh, you be hanged !" 



Butcher. " Yes, you be hanged, you swindling 

 'thief!" f 



Coper (to sporting miller). " Give me the stakes.*' 



The stakes were handed up, for they had been fairly 

 won, and there could be no protest. 



