"She might carry a big man like you through the mud," said he, carelessly,
"but as for pace, one cannot expect that with such a chuckle head. And if
one rode her through a town, the boys would call after one, 'All head and
no tail.' Why, I can't see her tail for her quarters, it is so ill set
on."
"Ill set on, or none," said Dirk, testily; "don't go to speak against her
pace till you have seen it. Here, lass!"
Dirk was, in his heart, rather afraid of the princess; but he was
comforted when she came up to him like a dog.
"She's as sensible as a woman," said he; and then grumbled to himself,
"may be she knows I mean to part with her."
"Lend me your saddle," said he to the stranger.
The stranger did so; and Dirk mounting galloped her in a ring. There was
no doubt of her powers, as soon as she began to move.
"I hope you won't remember this against me, madam," said Dirk, as soon as
he got out of the stranger's hearing. "I can't do less than sell you to a
Christian. And certainly I have been as good a master to you as if I'd
known who you were; but if you wish to stay with me you've only to kick me
off, and say so, and I'm yours to command."
"Well, she can gallop a bit," said the stranger, as Dirk pulled her up and
dismounted; "but an ugly brute she is nevertheless, and such a one as I
should not care to ride, for I am a gay man among the ladies.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232