Part 45 (1/2)

”Never in the world!” added the Captain.

”Hum!” said the Viscount, feeling a tender part of his own ribs thoughtfully, ”ha! But, hallo, Jerningham! have you been at it too?

Why are you buffed?” And he nodded to the Corinthian's bare arms.

”Oh, dooce take me, I forgot!” exclaimed the Marquis, looking about; ”queer cove, doocid touchy, looks as if he might fib though. Ah, there he is! talking to the rough-looking customer over yonder;” and he pointed to Barnabas, who stood with his coat thrown open, and the objectionable neckcloth in full evidence. The Viscount looked, started, uttered a ”view hallo,” and, striding forward, caught Barnabas by the hand.

”Why, Bev, my dear fellow, this is lucky!” he exclaimed. Now Barnabas was quick to catch the glad ring in the Viscount's voice, and to notice that the neckcloth was entirely lost upon him, therefore he smiled as he returned the Viscount's hearty grip.

”When did you get here? what are you doing? and what the deuce is the trouble between you and Jerningham?” inquired the Viscount all in a breath. But before Barnabas could answer, the great, black horse, tired of comparative inaction, began again to snort and rear, and jerk his proud head viciously, whereupon the two ostlers fell to swearing, and the Viscount's bays at the other end of the yard to capering, and the Viscount's small groom to anathematizing, all in a moment.

”Slingsby!” cried his Lords.h.i.+p, ”look to that black demon of yours!”

”He is no concern of mine, Devenham,” replied the Captain airily, ”sold him, b'gad!”

”And I bought him,” added Barnabas.

”You did?” the Viscount exclaimed, ”in heaven's name, what for?”

”To ride--”

”Eh? my dear fellow!”

”I should like to try him for the race on the fifteenth, if it could be managed, d.i.c.k.”

”The race!” exclaimed the Viscount, staring.

”I 've been wondering if you could--get me entered for it,” Barnabas went on, rather diffidently, ”I'd give anything for the chance.”

”What--with that brute! my dear fellow, are you mad?”

”No, d.i.c.k.”

”But he's unmanageable, Bev; he's full of vice--a killer--look at him now!”

And indeed at this moment, as if to bear out this character, up went the great, black head again, eyes rolling, teeth gleaming, and ears laid back.

”I tell you, Bev, no one could ride that devil!” the Viscount repeated.

”But,” said Barnabas, ”I've bet your friend Captain Slingsby that I could.”

”It would be madness!” exclaimed the Viscount. ”Ha! look out!

There--I told you so!” For in that moment the powerful animal reared suddenly--broke from the grip of one ostler, and swinging the other aside, stood free, and all was confusion. With a warning shout, the old groom sprang to his head, but Barnabas was beside him, had caught the hanging reins, and swung himself into the saddle.

”I've got him, sir,” cried Martin, ”find yer stirrups!”

”Your stick,” said Barnabas, ”quick, man! Now--let go!”

For a moment the horse stood rigid, then reared again, up and up--his teeth bared, his forefeet las.h.i.+ng; but down came the heavy stick between the flattened ears, once--twice, and brought him to earth again.

And now began a struggle between the man and the brute--each young, each indomitable, for neither had as yet been mastered, and therefore each was alike disdainful of the other. The head of the horse was high and proud, his round hoofs spurned the earth beneath, fire was in his eye, rage in his heart--rage and scorn of this presumptuous Two-legs who sought to pit his puny strength against his own quivering, four-legged might. Therefore he mocked Two-legs, scorned and contemned him, laughed ha! ha! (like his long-dead ancestor among the Psalmist's trumpets) and gathered himself together--eager for the battle.