"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, 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 wilderness.
Pages:
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303