tion.
Uncle Eb was leaning over the dasher his white locks flying. He had
something up his sleeve, as they say, and was not yet ready to use it.
Then Dean began to shear over to cut us off--a nasty trick of the low
horseman. I saw Uncle Eb glance at the ditch ahead. I knew what was
coming and took a firm hold of the seat. The ditch was a bit rough, but
Uncle Eb had no lack of courage. He turned the horse's head, let up on
the reins and whistled. I have never felt such a thrill as then. Our
horse leaped into the deep grass running like a wild deer.

'Hi there! hi there!' Uncle Eb shouted, bouncing in his seat, as we went
over stones and hummocks going like the wind.

'Go, ye brown devil!' he yelled, his hat flying off as he shook the
reins.

The mare lost her stride; we flashed by and came up into the road.
Looking back I saw her jumping up and down a long way behind us and Dean
whipping her. Uncle Eb, his hands over the dasher, had pulled down to
a trot Ahead of us we could see our folks--men and women--at the gate
looking down the road at us waving hats and handkerchiefs. They had
heard the noise of the battle. Uncle Eb let up on the reins and looked
back snorting with amusement. In a moment we pulled up at our gate. Dean
came along slowly.

'Thet's a putty good mare,' said Uncle Eb.

'Yer welcome to her,' said Dean sullenly.

'Wouldn't hev her,' said Uncle Eb.

'Why not?' said the trader a look of relief coming over his face.

'Can't go fast enough for my use,' Uncle Eb answered. 'Ye can jest hitch
her in here awhile an' the first day ye come over with a hundred dollars
ye can hev her 'n the whistler, both on 'em. Thet whistler's a grand
hoss! Can hold his breath longer'n any hoss I ever knew!'

The sum named was that we had paid him for the highly accomplished
animal. Dean had the manhood to pay up then and there and said he would
send for the other horse, which he never did.

'Guess he won't bother us any more when we stop t' look at the scenery,'
said Uncle Eb, laughing as Dean drove away. 'Kind o' resky business
buyin' hosses,' he added. 'Got t' jedge the owner as well as the hoss.
If there's anything the matter with his conscience it'll come out in
the hoss somewhere every time. Never knew a mean man t' own a good hoss.
Remember, boy, 's a lame soul thet drives a limpin' hoss.'

'No use talkin'; Bill ain' no jedge uv a hoss' said David Brower. 'He'll
hev t' hev an education er he'll git t' the poorho