"'Well,' said he, slowly, 'if we like each other's beasts,
friend, and can agree as to the boot, I don't know as I
wouldn't trade; for I don't care to raise colts, havin'
plenty of hoss stock on hand, and perhaps you do.'

"'How old is your hoss?' said the Frenchman.

"'I didn't raise it,' sais Steve, 'Ned Wheelock, I believe,
brought her to our parts.'

"'How old do you take her to be?'

"'Poor critter, she'd tell you herself, if she could,'
said he, 'for she knows best, but she can't speak; and
I didn't see her, when she was foalded.'

"'How old do you think?'

"'Age,' sais Steve, 'depens on use, not on years. A hoss
at five, if ill used, is old; a hoss at eight, if well
used is young.'

"'Sacry footry!' sais Goodish, 'why don't you speak out
like a man? Lie or no lie, how old is she?'

"'Well, I don't like to say,' sais Steve, 'I know she is
eight for sartain, and it may be she's nine. If I was to
say eight, and it turned out nine, you might be thinkin'
hard of me. I didn't raise it. You can see what condition
she is in; old hosses ain't commonly so fat as that, at