A DECEIVING HORSE. , 1-29 



travelling bill was something- considerable^ but without 

 even the set-off of a solitary "fifty " to be placed against 

 it. However, another such a chance at no cost was not 

 to be resisted; and the worthy owner, Mr. Wilson, left 

 the Stand inw^hich this conversation took place, determined 

 to start the bay off again for Thistley Downs the ver}' 

 next morning, as he was only ^' eating his head off" athome- 



The Oliver horse certainly did not look in a likely way 

 to accomplish this extraordinary feat; and his ''hard- 

 working condition " had a good deal of literal truth about 

 it, for he was little better than a bag of bones, as he had 

 been by no means pampered on his return from that 

 unprofitable tour in the provinces. Still lie would, of 

 course, be all the readier to go on with ; and the odd maE 

 of the establishment was soon hunted up. 



'^ Here, Jack, I want you to take the bay horse up to 

 Mr. Dominie's again. You had better start the first 

 thing to-morrow morning. How long will it take you ?'* 



" Be I to walk with un?" 



*' 0, yes ; go right across the country, you know." 



" Well, a couple of days — leastways we shall have to 

 be out one night on it." 



" The deuce you will ! Then I'll tell you what you 



•J ^ u 



must do. Get on with him to-morrow as far as Penty- 

 bwywn, and ask my friend, Mr. Carre, to give the horse 

 a berth for the night, while you can put up in the town. 

 You know Mr. Carre ; he keeps the hounds there, and 

 we have got a puppy of his here now. One good turn 

 deserves another." 



''Yes, sir; and be I to take any clothes for the horse, 

 or anything of that sort ?" 



" No, no; Mr. Dominie will find all that. Only put 

 on an old stable- bridle to lead him with." 



