JACKS, JENNETS AND MUI.ES 73 



competition ; the second, we got picking choice ; and 

 the third was, after we got the colts home with proper 

 feed and exercise these colts would develop to a much 

 higher degree of perfection, and our expectations were 

 fully realized. For example, we sold three half-broth- 

 ers.; two were yearlings past and one two-year-old, 

 for $4,500. We purchased nineteen head. Most of 

 them were quite poor. We had led them over the Pyr- 

 enees Mountains into France, stopping at Axe, which 

 is about half way down the mountain and a very 

 popular watering resort. We remained here twenty- 

 four days getting our stock in condition for the long 

 voyage. They improved rapidly. At this place Mr. 

 Ribo Saster left us, as we were through buying. He 

 proved to be an excellent gentleman ; his judgment 

 was good and he impressed us as a man of unusual 

 energy. He lives at Porta, France. He invited us to 

 dine with him, which was a most excellent affair, 

 serving twelve courses. It is useless to say how much 

 we appreciated this act of kindness from a man that 

 we had known but a few weeks. Mr. Saster seemed to 

 take a great interest in me. Often at meals he would 

 say in broken English, "You no eat, are you seak?" 

 Mr. Saster came back to Axe to assist us in loading 

 our stock to ship to our sailing point, Bordeaux. As 

 we parted tears rolled down his cheeks and he kissed 

 me good-bye. We remained in Bordeaux but a few 

 days, sailing on the Chateau Lafite, of the Bordeaux 

 shipping line. We had a nice smooth voyage, losing 

 but one animal, in Jersey City. At this place we rested 

 our stock some thirty-six hours. We also made a short 

 stop at Covington, Ky., some eighteen hours, thence 

 home. Mr. Frank Lester is a big-hearted fellow, 



