his back, and whistled. If anyone had hit him with a log chain the horse
could not have moved quicker. He took us by the other team like a flash,
on the dead run and three in the buggy.

'He'll do all right,' said Uncle Eb, and paid for the horse.

It was long after dark when we started home, leading him behind, and
near midnight when we arrived.

In the morning I found Uncle Eb in the stable showing him to the other
help. To my surprise the white stocking had disappeared.

'Didn't jes' like that white stockin',' he said, as I came in. 'Wondered
how he'd look without it.'

They all agreed this horse and the whistler were as much alike as two
peas in appearance. Breakfast over Uncle Eb asked the Irishman to hitch
him up.

'Come Bill,' said he, 'le's take a ride. Dean'll be comm' 'long bym bye
on his way t' town with that trotter o' his'n. 'Druther like to meet
him.'

I had only a faint idea of his purpose. He let the horse step along at
top speed going up the road and when we turned about he was breathing
heavily. We jogged him back down the road a mile or so, and when I
saw the blazed face of Dean's mare, in the distance, we pulled up and
shortly stopped him. Dean came along in a moment.

'Nice mornin'!' said he.

'Grand!' said Uncle Eb.

'Lookin' at the lan'scape ag'in?'

'Yes; I've jes' begun t' see what a putty country this is,' said Uncle
Eb.

'How's the boss?'

'Splendid! Gives ye time t' think an' see what yer passin'. Like t' set
'n think once in a while. We don't do enough thinkin' here in this part
o' the country.'

'Yd orter buy this mare an learn how t' ride fast,' said Dean.

'Thet one,' said Uncle Eb, squinting at the mare, 'why she can't go fast
'nough.'

'She can't, hey?' said Dean, bridling with injured pride. 'I don't think
there's anything in this town can head her.'

'Thunder!' said Uncle Eb, 'I can go by her with this ol' plug easy
'twixt here an' our gate. Ye didn't know what ye was sellin'.'

'If ye pass her once I'll give her to ye,' said he.

'Mean it?' said Uncle Eb.

'Sartin,' said he, a little redder in the face.

'An' if I don't I'll give ye the whistler,' said Uncle Eb as he turned
about.

The mare went away, under the whip, before we had fairly started. She
was going a fifty shot but in a moment we were lapping upon her hind
wheel. Dean threw a startled glance over his shoulder. Then he shouted
to the mare. She quickened her pace a little but we kept our posi