one of the men, near the door, to his
companion; "he seems to speak Welsh very well."

"How should I know?" said the other, who appeared to be a low working
man.

"Who are those people?" said I to John Jones.

"The smaller man is a workman at a flannel manufactory," said Jones.
"The other I do not exactly know."

"And who is the man on the other side of you?" said I.

"I believe he is an English dealer in gigs and horses," replied Jones,
"and that he is come here either to buy or sell."

The man, however, soon put me out of all doubt with respect to his
profession.

"I was at Chirk," said he; "and Mr So-and-so asked me to have a look at
his new gig and horse, and have a ride. I consented. They were both
brought out--everything new; gig new, harness new, and horse new. Mr
So-and-so asked me what I thought of his turn-out. I gave a look and
said, 'I like the car very well, harness very well, but I don't like the
horse at all; a regular bolter, rearer and kicker, or I'm no judge;
moreover, he's pigeon-toed.' However, we all got on the car--four of us,
and I was of course complimented with the ribbons. Well, we hadn't gone
fifty yards before the horse, to make my words partly good, began to kick
like a new 'un. However, I managed him, and he went on for a couple of
miles till we got to the top of the hill, just above the descent with the
precipice on the right hand. Here he began to rear like a very devil.

"'Oh dear me!' says Mr So-and-so; 'let me get out!'

"'Keep where you are,' says I, 'I can manage him.'

"However, Mr So-and-so would not be ruled, and got out; coming down, not
on his legs, but his hands and knees. And then the two others said--

"'Let us get out!'

"'Keep where you are,' said I, 'I can manage him.'

"But they must needs get out, or rather tumble out, for they both came
down on the road, hard on their backs.

"'Get out yourself,' said they all, 'and let the devil go, or you are a
done man.'

"'Getting out may do for you young hands,' says I, 'but it won't do for
I; neither my back nor bones will stand the hard road.'

"Mr So-and-so ran to the horse's head.

"'Are you mad?' says I, 'if you try to hold him he'll be over the
pree-si-pice in a twinkling, and then where am I? Give him head; I can
manage him.'

"So Mr So-and-so got out of the way, and down flew the horse right down
the descent, as fast as he could gallop. I tell you what, I didn't half
like it! A pree-si-pi