ve him a stinging blow, which made the
tender flesh quiver with pain, but the fiery gleam in the noble animal's
eye warned him not to repeat it. Suddenly among the excited group of
dusky faces he spied that of Claib, and bade him lead out the horse.

"I can't. Oh, mas'r, for the dear--" Claib began, but Harney's riding
whip silenced him at once, and he went submissively in to Rocket, who
became as gentle beneath his touch as a lamb.

Did the sagacious creature think then of Hugh, and fancy Claib had come
to lead him home? We cannot tell. We only know how proudly he arched his
graceful neck, as with dancing, mincing steps, he gamboled around Claib,
rubbing his nose against the honest black face, where the tears were
standing, and trying to lick the hands which had fed him so often at
Spring Bank.

Loud were the cries of admiration which hailed his appearance.

The bids were very rapid, for Rocket was popular, but Harney bided his
time, standing-silently by, with a look on his face of cool contempt for
those who presumed to think they could be the fortunate ones. He was
prepared to give more than any one else. Nobody would go above his
figure, he had set it so high--higher even than Rocket was really worth.
Five hundred and fifty, if necessary. No one would rise above that,
Harney was sure, and quietly waited until the bids were far between, and
the auctioneer still dwelling upon the last, seemed waiting expectantly
for something.

"I believe my soul the fellow knows I mean to have that horse," thought
Harney, and with an air which said, "that settles it," he called out in
loud, clear tones, "Four hundred," thus adding fifty at one bid.

There was a slight movement then in the upper balcony, an opening of the
glass door, and a suppressed whisper ran through the crowd, as Alice
came out and stood by the colonel's aide.

The bidding went on briskly now, each bidder raising a few dollars, till
four hundred and fifty was reached, and then there came a pause, broken
only by the voice of the excited Claib, who, as he confessed to Hugh,
had ventured to speak for himself, and was rewarded for his temerity by
a blow from Harney. With that blow still tingling about his ears and
confusing his senses, Claib could not well tell whence or from whom came
that silvery, half-tremulous voice, which passed so like an electric
shock through the eager crowd, and rousing Harney to a perfect fury.

"Five hundred."

There was no mistak