.

"About eight miles, sir."

"Well, you must be tired and hungry. Come into the house, and the cook
shall send you up some lunch."

"I am not in the least hungry, sir," said Gilbert. "We lunched at a
hotel in the next town."

Jasper accompanied his father into the house, but Gilbert remained
behind five minutes longer. John's good-natured anxiety for his safety
had enlisted his good will, and he thought he would like to chat a
while with him.

"You seem to be surprised at my coming home safe," he said.

"Yes, sir--shure I am. You're the only one I know that could manage the
ugly brute, let alone a horse-tamer."

"But Jasper has ridden on him. Don't you think I can manage him as well
as Jasper?"

"Mr. Jasper niver has ridden on Bucephalus."

"He told me he had," said Gilbert, in a tone of surprise.

"Shure, sir, you couldn't have understood him."

"Do you mean to say that he never rode on the horse?"

"No; and he wouldn't for a hundred dollars."

"What did he mean, then, by telling me he had done so?"

"Are you sure he told you so, Mr. Gilbert?"

"Yes; he said he had ridden Bucephalus, but not often, as he preferred
his own horse."

"Then, savin' your presince, he told a lie, but you mustn't tell him I
said so."

"I won't betray you; but I don't see why he should deceive me," said
Gilbert, regarding the coachman with perplexity. "Did Mr. Grey ever
ride on him?"

"No, sir, and he wouldn't. He'd be afraid of his life."

"Did you ever ride on him yourself, John?"

"Yes, sir, I did that same. I rid him once too often. Before I knew
where I was I found myself lyin' in the road lookin' up to the stars,
of which I saw plenty, though it was broad daylight."

"How long ago was that?"

"Two months ago, jist after we got him. I hain't been on his back
since."

Gilbert now began to look serious. He was beginning to understand a
little better how matters stood.

"I shouldn't think Mr. Grey or Jasper would have let me ride him if he
was so dangerous," he said, after a pause.

"Nor I," said John. "Faith, they care less for your neck than their
own, I'm thinkin'."

"It is lucky I am a good rider, or you might never have seen me again.
I conquered him, but it wasn't easy. Six months ago he would have
conquered me."

"All's well that ends well," said John, philosophically. "He won't be
up to any more of his tantrums when you are on his back, I'm thinkin'.
Horses have a good mimery, and they know thei