said the surgeon.  “Pretty gammon, truly,” said my late entertainer; “what would you say if I were to talk in that way to you?  Come, unless you choose to behave jonnock, I shall take the bridle and lead the horse back into the stable.”  “Well,” said the surgeon, “we are old friends, and I don’t wish to dispute with you, so I’ll tell you what I will do; I will ride the animal to Horncastle, and we will share what he fetches like brothers.”  “Good,” said the old man, “but if you say that you have sold him for less than a hundred, I shan’t consider you jonnock; remember what the young fellow said—­that young fellow—­” I heard no more, for the next moment I found myself on a broad road leading, as I supposed, in the direction of Horncastle, the surgeon still in the saddle, and my legs moving at a rapid trot.  “Get on,” said the surgeon, jerking my mouth with the bit; whereupon, full of rage, I instantly set off at a full gallop, determined, if possible, to dash my rider to the earth.  The surgeon, however, kept his seat, and, so far from attempting to abate my speed, urged me on to greater efforts with a stout stick, which methought he held in his hand.  In vain did I rear and kick, attempting to get rid of my foe; but the surgeon remained as saddle-fast as ever the Maugrabin sorcerer in the Arabian tale what time he rode the young prince transformed into a steed to his enchanted palace in the wilderness.  At last, as I was still madly dashing on, panting and blowing, and had almost given up all hope, I saw at a distance before me a heap of stones by the side of the road, probably placed there for the purpose of repairing it; a thought appeared to strike me—­I will shy at those stones, and, if I can’t get rid of him so, resign myself to my fate.  So I increased my speed, till arriving within about ten yards of the heap, I made a desperate start, turning half round with nearly the velocity of a mill-stone.  Oh, the joy I experienced when I felt my enemy canted over my neck, and saw him lying senseless in the road.  “I have you now in my power,” I said, or rather neighed, as, going up to my prostrate foe, I stood over him.  “Suppose I were to rear now, and let my fore feet fall upon you, what would your life be worth? that is, supposing you are not killed already; but lie there, I will do you no further harm, but trot to Horncastle without a rider, and when there—­” and without further reflection off I trotted in the direction of Horncastle, but had not gone far before my bridle, falling from my neck, got entangled with my off fore foot.  I felt myself falling, a thrill of agony shot through me—­my knees would be broken, and what should I do at Horncastle with a pair of broken knees?  I struggled, but I could not disengage my off fore foot, and downward I fell, but before I had reached the ground I awoke, and found myself half out of bed, my bandaged arm in considerable pain, and my left hand just touching the floor.