comes out right side up. But when he
came leading that snorting, dancing beast home, the chestnut dye was
pretty well off, and I knew him in a minute. Well, he was shot, and I
was my old mare and some money out. I wasn't going to have men's lives
on my conscience. But this is another matter. Now I've got my chance to
get even, and I'm going to get my old mare back."

Presently the two men were out on the road driving the black horse. He
went well enough, and seemed afraid of nothing. "There's not much the
matter with this animal except the tail and the cribbing, I guess," said
the doctor. "As for the tail, that is simply a question of ornament and
taste. The cribbing is more serious, of course, but I guess Sam Tucker
won't be in any danger of his life." They had not gone far before the
doctor drew up before a farmhouse on the left. A man with a serious
face, thin and wiry, was coming around the house with a wheelbarrowful
of potatoes. "Hullo, Sam!" called Doctor Gordon. The man left his barrow
and came alongside. James could see that he had a keen eye upon the
horse. "Fine morning," said the doctor.

Sam Tucker gave a grunt by way of assent. He was niggardly with speech.

"Have you got any more of those Baldwin apples to sell?" asked Doctor
Gordon, to James's intense surprise.

Sam Tucker looked reflectively at the doctor for a full minute, then
gave utterance to a monosyllable. "Bar'l."

"So you've got a barrel to sell," said Gordon.

Sam nodded.

"Well, I'll send my man over for them. They are mighty fine apples, and
Emma said yesterday that we were about out. I suppose they are the same
price."

Sam nodded.

"Seems as if you might take off a little, it is so late, and you might
have them spoiling on your hands," said Gordon, and James began to
wonder if they had come to drive a sharp bargain on apples instead of
horses.

Sam shook his head emphatically. "Same," he said.

"Well, I suppose I've got to pay it if you ask it," said Gordon. "I
can't buy any such apples elsewhere. You've got it your way. I'll send
the money over by Aaron." Doctor Gordon gathered up the reins, but Sam
Tucker seemed to experience a sudden convulsion all over his lank body.
"Horse," he said.

Doctor Gordon drove on a yard, but Sam, running alongside, he stopped.
"Yes," he said placidly, "horse. What do you think of him?"

Sam said nothing. He looked at the horse.

"He's the biggest bargain I ever got," said Gordon. "I am goi