what blood in a horse was.  Capt.  Currycomb, an officer at Halifax, had seen his horse and praised him, and that was enough—­that stamped him—­that fixed his value.  It was like the President’s name to a bank note, it makes it pass current.  Well, says I, I hant got a drop of blood in me nothin stronger than molasses and water, I vow, but I guess I know a horse when I see him for all that, and I dont think any great shakes of your beast, any how; what start will you give me, says I, and I will run “Old Clay” agin you, for a mile lick right an eend.  Ten rods, said he, for twenty dollars.  Well, we run, and I made “Old Clay” bite in his breath and only beat him by half a neck.  A tight scratch says I, that, and it would have sarved me right if I had been beat.  I had no business to run an old roadster so everlastin fast, it aint fair on him, is it?  Says he, I will double the bet and start even, and run you agin if you dare.  Well, says I, since I won the last it would’nt be pretty not to give you a chance; I do suppose I oughtn’t to refuse, but I dont love to abuse my beast by knockin him about this way.

As soon as the money was staked, I said, had’nt we better, says I, draw stakes, that are blood horse of yourn has such uncommon particular bottom, he’ll perhaps leave me clean out of sight.  No fear of that, said he, larfin, but he’ll beat you easy, any how.  No flinchin, says he, I’ll not let you go back of the bargain.  Its run or forfeit.  Well, says I, friend, there is fear of it; your horse will leave me out of sight, to a sartainty, thats a fact, for he cant keep up to me no time.  I’ll drop him, hull down, in tu twos.  If old Clay did’nt make a fool of him, its a pity.  Did’nt he gallop pretty, that’s all?  He walked away from him, jist as the Chancellor Livingston steam boat passes a sloop at anchor in the north river.  Says I, I told you your horse would beat me clean out of sight, but you would’nt believe me; now, says I, I will tell you something else.  That are horse will help, you to lose more money to Halifax than you are a thinkin on; for there aint a beast gone down there that wont beat him.  He cant run a bit, and you may tell the British Captain I say so.  Take him home and sell him, buy a good yoke of oxen; they are fast enough for a farmer, and give up blood horses to them that can afford to keep stable helps to tend ’em, and leave bettin alone to them, as has more money nor wit, and can afford to lose their cash, without thankin agin of their loss.  When I want your advice, said he, I will ask it, most peskily sulky.  You might have got it before you axed for it, said I, but not afore you wanted it, you may depend on it.  But stop, said I, let’s see that all’s right afore we part; so I counts over the fifteen pounds I won of him, note by note, as slow as any thing, on purpose to ryle him, then I mounts “old Clay” agin, and says I, friend, you have considerably