ng to
notice his cold reception.

The gypsy swept his eye over the animal and shook his head.

"If you will not buy, perhaps you will trade," the traveler said.

"Come," was the laconic response, and so saying, the gypsy turned
towards the forest which lay just beyond the camp. The "doctor" obeyed,
and the dogs sneaked after him, still growling, but keeping a respectful
distance. A moment later he found himself in a sequestered spot where
there was an improvised stable; and a dozen or more horses glancing up
from their feed whinnied a welcome.

"Look zem over," said the gypsy, again putting his elbow in his left
hand and his chin in his right--a posture into which he always fell when
in repose.

The quack, moving among the animals with an easy, familiarity, glanced
them over quickly but carefully, and shook his head.

"What!" exclaimed the gypsy with well feigned surprise; "ze senor doez
not zee ze horse he wanz?"

"Horses!" exclaimed the quack; "these are not horses. These are
boneyards. Every one of them is as much worse than mine as mine is than
the black stallion you stole in Pittsburg on the twenty-first day of
last October."

"Worze zan yourz! It eez impozzeeble!" answered the gypsy, as if he had
not heard the accusation. "Ziz horze ov yourz eez what you call a
crow-zcare! Zhe eez two hunner year ol'. Her teeth are fell oud. Zhe haz
ze zpavins. Zhe haz ze ringa bonze. But, senor," growing suddenly
respectful, and spreading out his hands in open and persuasive gestures,
"ere eez a horze zat eez a horze. Ee knowz more zan a man! Ee gan work
een ze arnez, ee gan work een ze zaddle; ee gan drot; ee can gallop; ee
gan bead ze winz!"

The gypsy had played his part well and concealed with consummate art
whatever surprise he might have felt at the charge of theft. His
attitude was free, his look was bold and his manner full of confidence.

The demeanor of the quack suddenly altered. From that of an easy
nonchalance, it turned to savage determination.

"Baltasar," he said, his face white and hard; "let us stop our acting.
Where is that stallion?"

"Whad ztallion?" asked the imperturbable gypsy, with an expression of
child-like innocence.

"I will not even take time to tell you, but if you do not take me to him
this instant there will be a dead gypsy in these woods," said the quack
fiercely.

"Ze zdranger jesz!" the gypsy answered blandly, showing his teeth and
spreading out the palms of his hands.

The