a wall about four feet high, beyond which was a
small meadow. Tawno rode the horse gently up to the wall, permitted him
to look over, then backed him for about ten yards, and pressing his
calves against the horse's sides, he loosed the rein, and the horse
launching forward, took the leap in gallant style. "Well done, man and
horse!" said Mr. Petulengro, "now come back, Tawno." The leap from the
side of the meadow was, however, somewhat higher; and the horse, when
pushed at it, at first turned away; whereupon Tawno backed him to a
greater distance, pushed the horse to a full gallop, giving a wild cry;
whereupon the horse again took the wall, slightly grazing one of his legs
against it. "A near thing," said the landlord; "but a good leap. Now,
no more leaping, so long as I have control over the animal." The horse
was then led back to the stable; and the landlord, myself and companions
going into the bar, I paid down the money for the horse.

Scarcely was the bargain concluded, when two or three of the company
began to envy me the possession of the horse, and forcing their way into
the bar, with much noise and clamour, said that the horse had been sold
too cheap. One fellow, in particular, with a red waistcoat, the son of a
wealthy farmer, said that if he had but known that the horse had been so
good a one, he would have bought it at the first price asked for it,
which he was now willing to pay, that is to-morrow, supposing--"supposing
your father will let you have the money," said the landlord, "which,
after all, might not be the case; but, however that may be, it is too
late now. I think myself the horse has been sold for too little money,
but if so all the better for the young man, who came forward when no
other body did with his money in his hand. There, take yourselves out of
my bar," he said to the fellows; "and a pretty scoundrel you," said he to
the man of the red waistcoat, "to say the horse has been sold too cheap;
why, it was only yesterday you said he was good for nothing, and were
passing all kinds of jokes at him. Take yourself out of my bar, I say,
you and all of you," and he turned the fellows out. I then asked the
landlord whether he would permit the horse to remain in the stable for a
short time, provided I paid for his entertainment; and on his willingly
consenting, I treated my friends with ale, and then returned with them to
the encampment.

That evening I informed Mr. Petulengro and his pa