cheery look in it. It may seem strange to say--but it is true all the
same--that the clean, fresh smell there was about him made me take to
him; no smell of old beer and tobacco, which I hated, but a fresh smell
as if he had come out of a hayloft. He offered twenty-three pounds for
me; but that was refused, and he walked away. I looked after him, but he
was gone, and a very hard-looking, loud-voiced man came. I was
dreadfully afraid he would have me; but he walked off. One or two more
came who did not mean business. Then the hard-faced man came back again
and offered twenty-three pounds. A very close bargain was being driven,
for my salesman began to think he should not get all he asked, and must
come down; but just then the gray-eyed man came back again. I could not
help reaching out my head toward him. He stroked my face kindly. "Well,
old chap," he said, "I think we should suit each other. I'll give
twenty-four for him."

"Say twenty-five, and you shall have him." "Twenty-four then," said my
friend, in a very decided tone, "and not another sixpence--yes, or no?"

"Done," said the salesman; "and you may depend upon it there's a
monstrous deal of quality in that horse, and if you want him for cab
work he's a bargain."

[Illustration]

The money was paid on the spot, and my new master took my halter, and
led me out of the fair to an inn, where he had a saddle and bridle
ready. He gave me a good feed of oats, and stood by while I ate it,
talking to himself and talking to me. Half an hour after, we were on our
way to London, through pleasant lanes and country roads, until we came
into the great thoroughfare, on which we traveled steadily, till in the