I will have no dealings
with you."
"Did I not hear your worship say that you wished to buy a horse?"
said the Gypsy.
"I do not want to buy a horse," said I; "if I need any thing, it is
a pony to carry our baggage; but it is getting late. Antonio, pay
the reckoning."
"Stay, your worship, do not be in a hurry," said the Gypsy: "I
have got the very pony which will suit you."
Without waiting for my answer, he hurried into the stable, from
whence he presently returned, leading an animal by a halter. It
was a pony of about thirteen hands high, of a dark red colour; it
was very much galled all over, the marks of ropes and thongs being
visible on its hide. The figure, however, was good, and there was
an extraordinary brightness in its eye.
"There, your worship," said the Gypsy; "there is the best pony in
all Spain."
"What do you mean by showing me this wretched creature?" said I.
"This wretched creature," said the Gypsy, "is a better horse than
your Andalou!"
"Perhaps you would not exchange," said I, smiling.
"Senor, what I say is, that he shall run with your Andalou, and
beat him!"
"He looks feeble," said I; "his work is well nigh done."
"Feeble as he is, Senor, you could not manage him; no, nor any
Englishman in Spain."
I looked at the creature again, and was still more struck with its
figure. I was in need of a pony to relieve occasionally the horse
of Antonio in carrying the baggage which we had brought from
Madrid, and though the condition of this was wretched, I thought
that by kind treatment I might possibly soon bring him round.
"May I mount this animal?" I demanded.
"He is a baggage pony, Senor, and is ill to mount. He will suffer
none but myself to mount him, who am his master. When he once
commences running, nothing will stop him but the sea. He springs
over hills and mountains, and leaves them behind in a moment. If
you will mount him, Senor, suffer me to fetch a bridle, for you can
never hold him in with the halter."
"This is nonsense," said I. "You pretend that he is spirited in
order to enhance the price. I tell you his work is done."
I took the halter in my hand and mounted. I was no sooner on his
back than the creature, who had before stood stone still, without
displaying the slightest inclination to move, and who in fact gave
no farther indication of existence than occasionally rolling his
eyes and pricking up an ear, sprang forward like a racehorse, at a
most desperate gallop. I had expected that he might kick or fling
himself down on the ground, in order to get rid of his burden, but
for this escapade I was quite unprepared. I had no difficulty,
however, in keeping on his back, having been accustomed from my
childhood to ride without a saddle.
