‘He’s fresh,’ observed Mr. Buckram confidentially to Mr. Sponge, ’he’s fresh—­wants work, in short—­short of work—­wouldn’t put every one on him—­wouldn’t put one o’ your timid cocknified chaps on him, for if ever he were to get the hupper ’and, vy I doesn’t know as ’ow that we might get the hupper ‘and o’ him, agen, but the playful rogue knows ven he’s got a workman on his back—­see how he gives to the lad though he’s only fifteen, and not strong of his hage nouther,’ continued Mr. Buckram, ’and I guess if he had sich a consternation of talent as you on his back, he’d wery soon be as quiet as a lamb—­not that he’s wicious—­far from it, only play—­full of play, I may say, though to be sure, if a man gets spilt it don’t argufy much whether it’s done from play or from wice.’

During this time the horse was going through his evolutions, hopping over this thing, popping over that, making as little of everything as practice makes them do.

Having gone through the usual routine, the lad now walked the glowing coated snorting horse back to where the trio stood.  Mr. Sponge again looked him over, and still seeing no exception to take to him, bid the lad get off and lengthen the stirrups for him to take a ride.  That was the difficulty.  The first two minutes always did it.  Mr. Sponge, however, nothing daunted, borrowed Sam’s spurs, and making Leather hold the horse by the head till he got well into the saddle, and then lead him on a bit; he gave the animal such a dig in both sides as fairly threw him off his guard, and made him start away at a gallop, instead of standing and delivering, as was his wont.

Away Mr. Sponge shot, pulling him about, trying all his paces, and putting him at all sorts of leaps.

Emboldened by the nerve and dexterity displayed by Mr. Sponge, Mr. Buckram stood meditating a further trial of his equestrian ability, as he watched him bucketing ‘Ercles’ about.  Hercules had ‘spang-hewed’ so many triers, and the hideous contraction of his resolute back had deterred so many from mounting, that Buckram had begun to fear he would have to place him in the only remaining school for incurables, the ’bus.  Hack-horse riders are seldom great horsemen.  The very fact of their being hack-horse riders shows they are little accustomed to horses, or they would not give the fee-simple of an animal for a few weeks’ work.

‘I’ve a wonderful clever little oss,’ observed Mr. Buckram, as Sponge returned with a slack-rein and a satisfied air on the late resolute animal’s back. ’Little I can ’ardly call ‘im,’ continued Mr. Buckram, ’only he’s low; but you knows that the ‘eight of an oss has nothin’ to do with his size.  Now this is a perfect dray-oss in miniature.  An ’Arrow gent, lookin’ at him t’other day christen’d him “Multum in Parvo.”  But though he’s so ter-men-dous strong, he has the knack o’ goin’, specially in deep; and if you’re not a-goin’ to Sir Richard, but into some o’ them plough sheers (shires), I’d ‘commend him to you.’