that
the hay was exceedingly tough), the door opened, and the surgeon who had
attended me came in. 'My good animal,' said he, 'as your late master has
scarcely left enough to pay for the expenses of his funeral, and nothing
to remunerate me for my trouble, I shall make bold to take possession of
you. If your paces are good, I shall keep you for my own riding; if not
I shall take you to Horncastle, your original destination.' He then
bridled and saddled me, and, leading me out, mounted, and then trotted me
up and down before the house, at the door of which the old man, who now
appeared to be dressed in regular jockey fashion, was standing. 'I like
his paces well,' said the surgeon; 'I think I shall take him for my own
use.' 'And what am I to have for all the trouble his master caused me?'
said my late entertainer, on whose countenance I now observed, for the
first time, a diabolical squint. 'The consciousness of having done your
duty to a fellow-creature in succouring him in a time of distress, must
be your reward,' said the surgeon. 'Pretty gammon, truly,' said my late
entertainer; 'what would you say if I were to talk in that way to you?
Come, unless you choose to behave jonnock, {189} I shall take the bridle
and lead the horse back into the stable.' 'Well,' said the surgeon, 'we
are old friends, and I don't wish to dispute with you, so I'll tell you
what I will do; I will ride the animal to Horncastle, and we will share
what he fetches like brothers.' 'Good,' said the old man, 'but if you
say that you have sold him for less than a hundred, I shan't consider you
jonnock; remember what the young fellow said--that young fellow--.' I
heard no more, for the next moment I found myself on a broad road
leading, as I supposed, in the direction of Horncastle, the surgeon still
in the saddle, and my legs moving at a rapid trot. 'Get on,' said the
surgeon, jerking my mouth with the bit; whereupon, full of rage, I
instantly set off at a full gallop, determined, if possible, to dash my
rider to the earth. The surgeon, however, kept his seat, and, so far
from attempting to abate my speed, urged me on to greater efforts with a
stout stick, which methought he held in his hand. In vain did I rear and
kick, attempting to get rid of my foe; but the surgeon remained as
saddle-fast as ever the Maugrabin sorcerer in the Arabian tale what time
he rode the young prince transformed into a steed to his enchanted palace
in the wildern