yard, found a man leading up and down a fine,
strongly-built steed, which, if not possessing all the points of which
Pearson's own horse could boast, was evidently an animal well capable of
performing a rapid and long journey at a stretch.

"The account is settled; and now let us mount and be off," said Pearson,
throwing himself into his saddle, and, having whispered a few words into
the ears of their ill-favoured host, he put spurs to his horse, and with
Jack by his side quickly left the village behind. Jack was highly
pleased with the paces of his new acquisition, and soon saw that he
should be able to push on over the ground at far greater speed than when
he had his own steady-going nag under him. In a short time, coming to a
fine open, grassy piece of land, he could not resist the temptation of
putting spurs to the animal's side, and starting off for a gallop.
Pearson shouted after him to stop; but Jack found it no easy matter to
rein in his steed. On turning his head, he found that the drover was
following him; and, though he fancied that he himself was going at full
gallop, his companion was quickly alongside him.

"That is very like a young man, but not the act of a wise one!" said
Pearson. "You should always keep your horse's strength for an emergency
on a long journey. His limbs are supple enough, I'll warrant; there was
no necessity for trying them just now."

"I could not help it," said Jack, tugging at the same time at the rein.
"The animal has mettle enough for any thing, I should think."

"I see that I must help you," said Pearson, "or you will not bring that
animal up in a hurry, till you have well-nigh sawn his mouth in two.
So-ho! Rover!" he cried out, adding a few cabalistical-sounding words.

In an instant the animal threw himself on his haunches, so suddenly
indeed, as nearly to unseat his rider. He was too good a horseman
though to be played such a trick.

"The beast is no stranger to you, Master Pearson," he observed.

"No; he has carried me over many a mile," was the answer. "I would not
wish to put you on an animal I had not tried. And now we will make play
over this ground, though at more moderate speed than you were going at
just now."

They found accommodation for the night in a small roadside inn. On the
next day, when passing through Grantham, as the travellers were
approaching the open square of the market-place, they observed a large
crowd collected round a person elevate