Though confident that he was addressing himself to
me, I took no notice, remembering the advice of the
ostler, and proceeded up the street. My horse
possessed a good walking step; but walking, as the
reader knows, was not his best pace, which was the
long trot, at which I could not well exercise him
in the street, on account of the crowd of men and
animals; however, as he walked along, I could easily
perceive that he attracted no slight attention amongst
those who, by their jockey dress and general appearance,
I imagined to be connoisseurs; I heard various calls
to stop, to none of which I paid the slightest attention.
In a few minutes I found myself out of the town,
when, turning round for the purpose of returning, I
found I had been followed by several of the connoisseur-looking
individuals, whom I had observed in the fair.
“Now would be the time for a display,”
thought I; and looking around me I observed two five-barred
gates, one on each side of the road, and fronting
each other. Turning my horse’s head to
one, I pressed my heels to his sides, loosened the
reins, and gave an encouraging cry, whereupon the
animal cleared the gate in a twinkling. Before
he had advanced ten yards in the field to which the
gate opened, I had turned him round, and again giving
him cry and rein, I caused him to leap back again
into the road, and still allowing him head, I made
him leap the other gate; and forthwith turning him
round, I caused him to leap once more into the road,
where he stood proudly tossing his head, as much as
to say, “What more?” “A fine horse!
a capital horse!” said several of the connoisseurs.
“What do you ask for him?” “Too
much for any of you to pay,” said I. “A
horse like this is intended for other kind of customers
than any of you.” “How do you know
that?” said one; the very same person whom I
had heard complaining in the street of the paucity
of good horses in the fair. “Come, let
us know what you ask for him?” “A hundred
and fifty pounds!” said I; “neither more
nor less.” “Do you call that a great
price?” said the man. “Why, I thought
you would have asked double that amount! You
do yourself injustice, young man.” “Perhaps
I do,” said I, “but that’s my affair;
I do not choose to take more.” “I
wish you would let me get into the saddle,” said
the man; “the horse knows you, and therefore
shows to more advantage; but I should like to see
how he would move under me, who am a stranger.
Will you let me get into the saddle, young man?”
“No,” said I; “I will not let you
get into the saddle.” “Why not?”
said the man. “Lest you should be a Yorkshireman,”
said I; “and should run away with the horse.”
“Yorkshire?” said the man; “I am
from Suffolk; silly Suffolk—so you need
not be afraid of my running away with the horse.”
“Oh! if that’s the case,” said I,
“I should be afraid that the horse would run
away with you; so I will by no means let you mount.”
“Will you let me look in his mouth?”
said the man. “If you please,” said