The steed, spoken to in this peremptory manner, leaped to his feet, and
stood in all his graceful and beautiful proportions, an equine gem, which
could not fail to command admiration.

"I think he'll suit," said the Irishman, after a careful examination. "I
think he can run as well as any of 'em. I'll tell you what we'll do, me
laddy. We'll both mount this one, and ride till we reach the place where I
lift mine, when we'll have one apiece."

"But if yours isn't there?"

"Then we'll kaap this one betwaan us, as the gals used to say, when they
quarreled over me."

"Hadn't I better take one of the horses, and if we find yours, why, we can
turn one of these loose, and we shall be all right, no matter how the
things turn out?"

"It's not a bad idaa," assented the Irishman. "Pick yours out, and then
we'll turn the others loose."

"Why will you do that?"

"What's the use of laving them here? Them spalpeens will find their way
out of the cave before long, and then they will strike straight for these
animals, and, if they happen to get out pretty soon, they'll make trouble
with us. We might as well let 'em walk awhile."

"How are they going to get out?"