There's a better man than he close by; let him get on his back and leap him." "You mean yourself, I suppose," said the landlord."Well, I call that talking modestly, and nothing becomes a young man more than modesty." "It a'n't I, daddy,"said Mr.Petulengro."Here's the man," said he, pointing to Tawno."Here's the horse-leaper of the world!" "You mean the horse-back breaker," said the landlord."That big fellow would break down my cousin's horse." "Why, he weighs only sixteen stone," said Mr.Petulengro."And his sixteen stone, with his way of handling a horse, does not press so much as any other one's thirteen.Only let him get on the horse's back, and you'll see what he can do!" "No," said the landlord, "it won't do." Whereupon Mr.Petulengro became very much excited; and pulling out a handful of money, said, "I'll tell you what, I'll forfeit these guineas, if my black pal there does the horse any kind of damage; duck me in the horse-pond if I don't." "Well," said the landlord, "for the sport of the thing I consent, so let your white pal get down, and our black pal mount as soon as he pleases." I felt rather mortified at Mr.Petulengro's interference; and showed no disposition to quit my seat; whereupon he came up to me and said, "Now, brother, do get out of the saddle - you are no bad hand at trotting, I am willing to acknowledge that;but at leaping a horse there is no one like Tawno.Let every dog be praised for his own gift.You have been showing off in your line for the last half-hour; now do give Tawno a chance of exhibiting a little; poor fellow, he hasn't often a chance of exhibiting, as his wife keeps him so much out of sight." Not wishing to appear desirous of engrossing the public attention, and feeling rather desirous to see how Tawno, of whose exploits in leaping horses I had frequently heard, would acquit himself in the affair, I at length dismounted, and Tawno, at a bound, leaped into the saddle, where he really looked like Gunnar of Hlitharend, save and except the complexion of Gunnar was florid, whereas that of Tawno was of nearly Mulatto darkness; and that all Tawno's features were cast in the Grecian model, whereas Gunnar had a snub nose."There's a leaping-bar behind the house," said the landlord."Leaping-bar!" said Mr.Petulengro, scornfully."Do you think my black pal ever rides at a leaping-bar? No more than a windle-straw.Leap over that meadow-wall, Tawno." Just past the house, in the direction in which I had been trotting, was 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.Ithink 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 Ipaid 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 party that on the morrow I intended to mount my horse, and leave that part of the country in quest of adventures; inquiring of Jasper where, in the event of my selling the horse advantageously, Imight meet with him, and repay the money I had borrowed of him; whereupon Mr.Petulengro informed me that in about ten weeks I might find him at a certain place at the Chong gav.
I then stated that as I could not well carry with me the property which I possessed in the dingle, which after all was of no considerable value, I had resolved to bestow the said property, namely, the pony, tent, tinker-tools, etc., on Ursula and her husband, partly because they were poor, and partly on account of the great kindness which I bore to Ursula, from whom I had, on various occasions, experienced all manner of civility, particularly in regard to crabbed words.On hearing this intelligence, Ursula returned many thanks to her gentle brother, as she called me, and Sylvester was so overjoyed that, casting aside his usual phlegm, he said I was the best friend he had ever had in the world, and in testimony of his gratitude swore that he would permit his wife to give me a choomer in the presence of the whole company, which offer, however, met with a very mortifying reception, the company frowning disapprobation, Ursula protesting against anything of the kind, and I myself showing no forwardness to avail myself of it, having inherited from nature a considerable fund of modesty, to which was added no slight store acquired in the course of my Irish education.Ipassed that night alone in the dingle in a very melancholy manner, with little or no sleep, thinking of Isopel Berners;and in the morning when I quitted it I shed several tears, as I reflected that I should probably never again see the spot where I had passed so many hours in her company.
