," answered Jack; "they can't."

"You mean they won't," observed the old horse; and though he spoke the
words of mankind, it was not in a voice like theirs. Still Jack felt
that his was just the natural tone for a horse, and that it did not
arise only from the length of his nose. "You'll find out some day,
perhaps," he continued, "whether horses can talk or not."

"Shall I?" said Jack, very earnestly.

"They'll TELL," proceeded the white horse. "I wouldn't be you when
they tell how you've used them."

"Have you been ill used?" said Jack, in an anxious tone.

"Yes, yes, of course he has," one of the women broke in; "but he has
come here to get all right again. This is a very wholesome country for
horses; isn't it, Boney?"

"Yes," said the horse.

"Well, then, jog on, there's a dear," continued the old woman. "Why,
you will be young again soon, you know,--young, and gamesome, and
handsome; you'll be quite a colt, by and by, and then we shall set you
free to join your companions in the happy meadows."

The old horse was so comforted by this kind speech, that he pricked up
his ears and quickened his pace considerably.

"He was shamefully used," observed one washer-woman. "Look at him,
how lean he is! You can see all his ribs."

"Yes," said the other, as if apologizing for the poor old horse. "He
gets low-spirited when he thinks of all he has gone through; but he is
a vast deal better already than he was. He used to live in London; his
master always carried a long whip to beat him with, and never spoke
civilly to him."

"London!" exclaimed Jack; "why that is in my country. How did the
horse get here?"

"That's no business of yours," answered one of the women. "But I can
tell you he came because he was wanted, which is more than you are."

"You let him alone," said the horse, in a querulous tone. "I don't
bear any malice."

"No; he has a good disposition, has Boney," observed the red old
woman. "Pray, are you a boy?"

"Yes," said Jack.

"A real boy, that wants no winding up?" inquired the old woman.

"I don't know what you mean," answered Jack; "but I am a real boy,
certainly."

"Ah!" she replied. "Well, I thought you were, by the way Boney spoke
to you. How frightened you must be! I wonder what will be done to all
your people for driving, and working, and beating so many beautiful
creatures to death every year that comes? They'll have to pay for it
some day, you may depend."

Jack was a little alarm