250 THE THOTTING-HORSE OF SMERICA. 



pie in bright mornings, as well in Washington Hollow aa 

 everywhere else, passed between the drover and our good 

 friend of Washington Hollow, and presently Mr. Vieleehad 

 the little bay mare by the nose, and was studying every 

 mark upon her teeth. He then took liold of her feet ; and 

 the little mare lifted them successively in his hand with a 

 quiet, downward glance, that seemed to say, " You'll find 

 every thing right there, Mr. Vielee, and as fair and as firm 

 as if you wished me to trot for a man's life ! " And so Mr. 

 Vielee did ; and, as he dropped the last foot, he liked the 

 promise of the little mare amazingly ; and it struck him, that, 

 if he could get her for any sum short of $250, she would 

 be a mighty good bargain. 



" She is about five years old ? " said Mr. Vielee, inquir- 

 ingly- 



" You have seen for yourself," replied the drover. 

 " I should judge she was all right ? " again suggested 

 Mr. Vielee, partly walking round the mare, and again look- 

 ing at her up and down. 



"Sound as a dollar, and kind as a kitten," responded the 

 drover, as firmly as if prepared to give a written guarantee. 

 " Not always so Icind, neither, " said Mr. Vielee, looking 

 again steadily at the mare's face ; " or I don't understand 

 that deviltry in her eye. But tbat's neither here nor there : 

 you say the mare is for sale. Now, let's know what you'll 

 take for her." 



This inquiry of Mr. Vielee's was the opening of a highly 

 scientific display of diplomacy between him and the rider 

 of the gray stallion ; which, after lasting some three-quarters 

 of an hour, during which the little bay mare was put 

 through all her paces in one of Mr. Vielee's wagons, result- 

 ed in her passing permanently from the halter at the tail 

 of the wagon into the possession of Mr. Jonathan Vielee, 

 for the sum of $175. 



"And a pretty good price at that," said the drover to 

 himself, on pocketing the cash, " for an animal that only 



