contemptuousnames,buttheirgreatpeoplealso。Theydidn’tcallyouthematchlessHurler,because,bydoingso,theywouldhavepaidyouacompliment,butHullovertheHeadJack,asmuchastosaythatafterallyouwereascrub;so,inancienttime,insteadofcallingRegnerthegreatconqueror,theNationTamer,theysurnamedhimLodbrog,whichsignifiesRoughorHairyBreeks—lodorloddinsignifyingroughorhairy;andinsteadofcomplimentingHalgerdr,thewifeofGunnarofHlitharend,thegreatchampionofIceland,uponhermajesticpresence,bycallingherHalgerdr,thestatelyortall;whatmusttheydobuttermherHa—brokr,orHighbreeks,itbeingthefashioninoldtimesforNorthernladiestowearbreeks,orbreeches,whichEnglishladiesofthepresentdayneverthinkofdoing;andjust,asofold,theycalledHalgerdrLong—breeks,sothisverydayafellowofHorncastlecalled,inmyhearing,ournoble—lookingHungarianfriendhere,Long—
stockings。Oh,Icouldgiveyouahundredinstances,bothancientandmodern,ofthisunseemlypropensityofourillustriousrace,thoughIwillonlytroubleyouwithafewmoreancientones;theynotonlynicknamedRegner,buthissonsalso,whowereallkings,anddistinguishedmen:one,whosenamewasBiorn,theynicknamedIronsides;another,Sigurd,SnakeintheEye;another,WhiteSark,orWhiteShirt—IwondertheydidnotcallhimDirtyShirt;andIvarr,another,whowaskingofNorthumberland,theycalledBienlausi,ortheLegless,becausehewasspindle—shanked,hadnosapinhisbones,andconsequentlynochildren。Hewasagreatking,itistrue,andverywise,neverthelesshisblackguardcountrymen,alwaysaverse,astheirdescendantsare,togivecredittoanybody,foranyvaluablequalityorpossession,mustneedslayhold,doyousee—\"
ButbeforeIcouldsayanymore,thejockey,havinglaiddownhispipe,rose,andhavingtakenoffhiscoat,advancedtowardsme。
CHAPTERXLII
AShort—temperedPerson—Gravitation—TheBestEndowment—
MaryFulcher—FairDealing—Horse—witchery—DariusandhisGroom—TheJockey’sTricks—TheTwoCharacters—TheJockey’sSong。
THEjockey,havingtakenoffhiscoatandadvancedtowardsme,asIhavestatedintheprecedingchapter,exclaimed,inanangrytone,\"Thisisthethirdtimeyouhaveinterruptedmeinmytale,Mr。Rye;Ipassedoverthetwofirsttimeswithasimplewarning,butyouwillnowpleasetogetupandgivemethesatisfactionofaman。\"
\"Iamreallysorry,\"saidI,\"ifIhavegivenyouoffence,butyouweretalkingofourEnglishhabitsofbestowingnicknames,andIcouldnotrefrainfromgivingafewexamplestendingtoprovewhataveryancienthabititis。\"
\"Butyouinterruptedme,\"saidthejockey,\"andputmeoutofmytale,whichyouhadnorighttodo;andasforyourexamples,howdoyouknowthatIwasn’tgoingtogivesomeasoldorolderthanyourn?Nowstandup,andI’llmakeanexampleofyou。\"
\"Well,\"saidI,\"Iconfessitwaswronginmetointerruptyou,andIaskyourpardon。\"
\"Thatwon’tdo,\"saidthejockey,\"askingpardonwon’tdo。\"
\"Oh,\"saidI,gettingup,\"ifaskingpardondoesnotsatisfyyou,youareadifferentmanfromwhatIconsideredyou。\"
ButheretheHungarian,alsogettingup,interposedhistallformandpipebetweenus,sayinginEnglish,scarcelyintelligible,\"Lettherebenodispute!Asformyself,IamverymuchobligedtotheyoungmanofHorncastleforhisinterruption,thoughhehastoldmethatoneofhisdirtytownsmencalledme’Long—stocking。’ByIsten!thereismorelearninginwhathehasjustsaidthaninalltheverdammtEnglishhistoriesofThorandTzernebockIeverread。\"
\"Icarenothingforhislearning,\"saidthejockey。\"I
considermyselfasgoodamanashe,forallhislearning;sostandoutoftheway,Mr。Sixfooteleven,or—\"
\"Ishalldonosuchthing,\"saidtheHungarian。\"Iwonderyouarenotashamedofyourself。Youaskayoungmantodrinkchampagnewithyou,youmakehimdronk,heinterruptyouwithverygoodsense;heaskyourpardon,yetyounot—\"
\"Well,\"saidthejockey,\"Iamsatisfied。Iamratherashort—temperedperson,butIbearnomalice。Heis,asyousay,drinkingmywine,andhasperhapstakenadroptoomuch,notbeingusedtosuchhighliquor;butonedoesn’tliketobeputoutofone’stale,moreespeciallywhenonewasabouttomoralize,doyousee,oneself,andtoshowoffwhatlittlelearningonehas。However,Ibearsnomalice。Hereisahandtoeachofyou;we’lltakeanotherglasseach,andthinknomoreaboutit。\"
Thejockeyhavingshakenbothofourhands,andfilledourglassesandhisownwithwhatchampagneremainedinthebottle,putonhiscoat,satdown,andresumedhispipeandstory。
\"WherewasI?Oh,roamingaboutthecountrywithHoppingNedandBitingGiles。Thosewerehappydays,andamerryandprosperouslifeweled。However,nothingcontinuesunderthesuninthesamestateinwhichitbegins,andourfirmwassoondestinedtoundergoachange。Wecametoavillagewheretherewasaveryhighchurchsteeple,andinalittletimemycomradesinducedacrowdofpeopletogoandseemedisplaymygiftbyflingingstonesabovetheheadsofMatthew,Mark,LukeandJohn,whostoodatthefourcornersonthetop,carvedinstone。Theparson,seeingthecrowd,camewaddlingoutofhisrectorytoseewhatwasgoingon。
AfterIhadflungupthestones,lettingthemfalljustwhereIliked—andone,Iremember,fellontheheadofMark,whereIdaresayitremainstothepresentday—theparson,whowasoneofthedescriptionofpeoplecalledphilosophers,helduphishand,andaskedmetoletthenextstoneIflungupfalluponit。Hewished,doyousee,toknowwithwhatweightthestonewouldfalldown,andtalkedsomethingaboutgravitation—awordwhichIcouldneverunderstandtothepresentday,savethatitturnedoutagravemattertome。
I,likeasillyfellowmyself,mustneedsconsent,and,flingingthestoneuptoavastheight,contrivedsothatitfellintotheparson’shand,whichitcutdreadfully。Theparsonflewintoagreatrage,moreparticularlyaseverybodylaughedathim,and,beingamagistrate,orderedhisclerk,whowaslikewiseconstable,toconductmetoprisonasarogueandvagabond,tellingmycomradesthatiftheydidnottakethemselvesoff,hewouldservetheminthesamemanner。
SoNedhoppedoff,andGilesranafterhim,withoutmakinganygathering,andIwasledtoBridewell,mymittimusfollowingattheendofaweek,theparson’shandnotpermittinghimtowritebeforethattime。IntheBridewellI
remainedamonth,when,beingdismissed,Iwentinquestofmycompanions,whom,aftersometime,Ifoundup,buttheyrefusedtokeepmycompanyanylonger;tellingmethatIwasadangerouscharacter,likelytobringthemmoretroublethanprofit;theyhad,moreover,filledupmyplace。Goingintoacottagetoaskforadrinkofwater,theysawacountryfellowmakingfacestoamusehischildren;thefacesweresowonderfulthatHoppingNedandBitingGilesatonceproposedtakinghimintopartnership,andtheman—whowasafellownotveryfondofwork—afteralittleentreaty,wentawaywiththem。Isawhimexhibithisgift,andcouldn’tblametheothersforpreferringhimtome;hewasaproperuglyfellowatalltimes,butwhenhemadefaceshiscountenancewaslikenothinghuman。HewascalledUglyMoses。Iwassoamazedathisfaces,thatthoughpoormyselfIgavehimsixpence,whichIhavenevergrudgedtothisday,forIneversawanythinglikethem。Thefirmthrovewonderfullyafterhehadbeenadmittedintoit。Hediedsomelittletimeago,keeperofapublic—house,whichhehadbeenenabledtotakefromtheprofitsofhisfaces。Asonofhis,oneofthechildrenhewasmakingfacestowhenmycomradesenteredhisdoor,isatpresentabarrister,andaveryrisingone。Hehashisgift—hehasnot,itistrue,thegiftofthegab,buthehassomethingbetter,hewasbornwithagrinonhisface,aquietgrin;hewouldnothavedonetogrinthroughacollarlikehisfather,andwouldneverhavebeentakenupbyHoppingNedandBitingGiles,butthatgrinofhiscausedhimtobenoticedbyamuchgreaterpersonthaneither;anattorneyobservingittookalikingtothelad,andprophesiedthathewouldsomedaybeheardofintheworld;
andinordertogivehimthefirstlift,tookhimintohisoffice,atfirsttolightfiresanddosuchkindofwork,andafteralittletimetaughthimtowrite,thenpromotedhimtoadesk,articledhimafterwards,andbeingunmarried,andwithoutchildren,lefthimwhathehadwhenhedied。Theyoungfellow,afterpractisingatthelawsometime,wenttothebar,where,inafewyears,helpedonbyhisgrin,forhehadnothingelsetorecommendhim,hebecame,asIsaidbefore,arisingbarrister。Hecomesourcircuit,andI
occasionallyemployhim,whenIamobligedtogotolawaboutsuchathingasanunsoundhorse。Hegenerallybringsmethrough—orratherthatgrinofhisdoes—andyetIdon’tlikethefellow,confoundhim,butI’manoddity—no,theoneIlike,andwhomIgenerallyemploy,isafellowquitedifferent,abluffsturdydog,withnogrinonhisface,butwithalookthatseemstosayIamanhonestman,andwhatcaresIforanyone?Andanhonestmanheis,andsomethingmore。Ihaveknowncoveswithabettergiftofthegab,thoughnotmany,buthealwaysspeakstothepurpose,andunderstandslawthoroughly;andthat’snotall。Whenatcollege,forhehasbeenatcollege,hecarriedoffeverythingbeforehimasaLatiner,andwasfirst—rateatagametheycallmatthewmattocks。Idon’texactlyknowwhatitis,butIhaveheardthathewhoisfirst—rateatmatthewmattocksisthoughtmoreofthanifhewerefirst—rateLatiner。
\"Well,thechapthatI’mtalkingabout,notonlycameoutfirst—rateLatiner,butfirst—rateatmatthewmattockstoo;
doing,infact,asIamtoldbythosewhoknows,forIwasneveratcollegemyself,whatnoonehadeverdonebefore。
Well,hemakeshisappearanceatourcircuit,doesverywell,ofcourse,buthehasasomewhathighfront,asbecomesanhonestman,andonewhohasbeateveryoneatLatinandmatthewmattocks;andonewhocanspeakfirst—ratelawandsense;—butseenow,thecovewiththegrin,whohaslikemyselfneverbeenatcollege;knowsnothingofLatin,ormatthewmattocks,andhasnoparticulargiftofthegab,hastwobriefsforhisone,andIsupposeveryproperly,forthatgrinofhiscurriesfavourwiththejuries;andmarkme,thatgrinofhiswillenablehimtobeattheotherinthelongrun。Weallknowwhatallbarristercoveslooksforwardto—
aseatonthehopsack。Well,I’llbetabulltofivepence,thatthegrinnergetsuponit,andthesnarlerdoesn’t;atanyrate,thathegetstherefirst。Icallsmycove—forheismycove—asnarler;becauseyourfirst—ratesatmatthewmattocksarecalledsnarlers,andfornootherreason;forthechap,thoughwithahighfront,isagoodchap,andoncedrankaglassofalewithme,afterbuyingananimaloutofmystable。Ihaveoftenthoughtitapityhewasn’tbornwithagrinonhisfacelikethesonofUglyMOSES。ItistruehewouldscarcelythenhavebeenanoutandouteratLatinandmatthewmattocks,butwhatneedofeithertoachapbornwithagrin?Talkofbeingbornwithasilverspooninone’smouth!givemeacovebornwithagrinonhisface—amuchbetterendowment。
\"IwillnowshortenmyhistoryasmuchasIcan,forwehavetalkedasmuchasfolksdoduringawholenightintheCommons’House,though,ofcourse,notwithsomuchlearning,orsomuchtothepurpose,because—why?TheyareintheHouseofCommons,andweinapublicroomofaninnatHorncastle。Thegoodnessoftheale,doyesee,neverdependingonwhatitismadeof,oh,no!butonthefashionandappearanceofthejuginwhichitisservedup。Afterbeingturnedoutofthefirm,Igotmylivingintwoorthreehonestways,whichIshallnottroubleyouwithdescribing。
Ididnotlikeanyofthem,however,astheydidnotexactlysuitmyhumour;atlastIfoundonewhichdid。OneSaturdayafternoon,Ichancedtobeinthecattle—marketofaplaceabouteightymilesfromhere;thereIwonthefavourofanoldgentlemanwhosolddickeys。Hehadaveryshabbysquadofanimals,withoutsoulorspirit;nobodywouldbuythem,tillIleapedupontheirhinderends,andbymerelywrigglinginaparticularmanner,madethemcaperandboundsotopeople’sliking,thatinafewhourseveryoneofthemwassoldatverysufficientprices。Theoldgentlemanwassopleasedwithmyskill,thathetookmehomewithhim,andinaverylittletimeintopartnership。It’sagoodthingtohaveagift,butyetbettertohavetwo。Imighthavegotaverydecentlivelihoodbythrowingstones,butImuchquestionwhetherIshouldeverhaveattainedtothepositioninsocietywhichInowoccupy,butformyknowledgeofanimals。Ilivedverycomfortablywiththeoldgentlemantillhedied,whichhedidinaboutafortnightafterhehadlaidhisoldladyintheground。Havingnochildren,heleftmewhatshouldremainafterhehadbeenburieddecently,andtheremainderwassixdickeysandthirtyshillingsinsilver。
Iremainedinthedickeytradetenyears,duringwhichtimeI
savedahundredpounds。Ithenembarkedinthehorseline。
Oneday,beinginthe—marketonaSaturday,IsawMaryFulcherwithahalterroundherneck,ledaboutbyaman,whoofferedtosellherforeighteen—pence。Itookoutthemoneyforthwithandboughther;themanwasherhusband,abasket—
maker,withwhomshehadlivedseveralyearswithouthavinganychildren;hewasadrunken,quarrel—somefellow,andhavinghadadisputewithherthedaybefore,hedeterminedtogetridofher,byputtingahalterroundherneckandleadinghertothecattle—market,asifshewereamare,whichhehad,itseems,arighttodo;—allwomenbeingconsideredmaresbyoldEnglishlaw,and,indeed,stillcalledmaresincertaincounties,wheregenuineoldEnglishisstillpreserved。Thatsameafternoon,themanwhohadbeenherhusband,havinggotdrunkinapublic—house,withthemoneywhichhehadreceivedforher,quarrelledwithanotherman,andreceivingablowundertheear,felluponthefloor,anddiedofartiflex;andinlessthanthreeweeksIwasmarriedtoMaryFulcher,byvirtueofregularbans。I
amtoldshewaslegallymypropertybyvirtueofmyhavingboughtherwithahalterroundherneck;but,totellyouthetruth,Ithinkeverybodyshouldlivebyhistrade,andI
didn’twishtoactshabbilytowardsourparson,whoisagoodfellow,andhascertainlyarighttohisfees。AbetterwifethanMaryFulcher—ImeanMaryDale—nooneeverhad;shehasbornemeseveralchildren,andhasatalltimesshownawillingnesstoobligeme,andtobemyfaithfulwife。
Amongstotherthings,Ibeggedhertohavedonewithherfamily,andIbelieveshehasneverspokentothemsince。
\"Ihavethrivenverywellinbusiness,andmynameisupasbeingapersonwhocanbedependedon,whenfolkstreatsmehandsomely。Ialwaysmakeapointwhenagentlemancomestome,andsays,’Mr。Dale,’or’John,’forIhavenoobjectiontobecalledJohnbyagentleman—’Iwantsagoodhorse,andamreadytopayagoodprice’—Ialwaysmakesapoint,I
say,tofurnishhimwithananimalworththemoney;butwhenIseesafellow,whetherhecallshimselfgentlemanornot,wishingtocircumventme,whatdoesIdo?Idoesn’tquarrelwithhim;notI;but,lettinghimimagineheistakingmein,Icontrivestosellhimascrewforthirtypounds,notworththirtyshillings。Allhonestrespectablepeoplehaveatpresentgreatconfidenceinme,andfrequentlycommissionsmetobuythemhorsesatgreatfairslikethis。
\"Thisshortyounggentlemanwasrecommendedtomebyagreatlandedproprietor,towhomheborelettersofrecommendationfromsomegreatprinceinhisowncountry,whohadalongtimeagobeenentertainedatthehouseofthelandedproprietor,andtheconsequenceis,thatIbringsyoungsixfootsixtoHorncastle,andpurchasesforhimthehorseoftheRomanyRye。Idon’tdothesekindthingsfornothing,itistrue;thatcan’tbeexpected;foreveryonemustlivebyhistrade;but,asIsaidbefore,whenIamtreatedhandsomely,Itreatfolksso。Honesty,Ihavediscovered,asperhapssomeotherpeoplehave,isbyfarthebestpolicy;
though,asIalsosaidbefore,whenI’malongwiththieves,I
canbeatthemattheirowngame。IfIamobligedtodoit,I
canpassofftheveriestscrewasaflyingdrummedary,forevenwhenIwasachildIhadfoundoutbyvariousmeanswhatmaybedonewithanimals。Iwishnowtoaskacivilquestion,Mr。RomanyRye。Certainfolkshavetoldmethatyouareahorsewitch;areyouone,orareyounot?\"
\"I,likeyourself,\"saidI,\"know,toacertainextent,whatmaybedonewithanimals。\"
\"Thenhowwouldyou,Mr。RomanyRye,passofftheveriestscrewintheworldforaflyingdrummedary?\"
\"Byputtingasmallliveeeldownhisthroat;aslongastheeelremainedinhisstomach,thehorsewouldappearbriskandlivelyinasurprisingdegree。\"
\"Andhowwouldyoucontrivetomakearegularkickerandbiterappearsotameandgentle,thatanyrespectablefatoldgentlemanofsixty,whowantedaneasygoer,wouldbegladtopurchasehimforfiftypounds?\"
\"Bypouringdownhisthroatfourpintsofgenerousoldale,whichwouldmakehimsohappyandcomfortable,thathewouldnothavethehearttokickorbiteanybody,foraseasonatleast。\"
\"Andwheredidyoulearnallthis?\"saidthejockey。
\"IhavereadabouttheeelinanoldEnglishbook,andaboutthemakingdrunkinaSpanishnovel,and,singularlyenough,IwastoldthesamethingsbyawildblacksmithinIreland。
Nowtellme,doyoubewitchhorsesinthisway?\"
\"I?\"saidthejockey;\"mercyuponus!Iwouldn’tdosuchthingsforahatfulofmoney。No,no,preservemefromliveeelsandhocussing!Andnowletmeaskyou,howwouldyouspiritahorseoutofafield?\"
\"HowwouldIspiritahorseoutofafield?\"
\"Yes;supposingyouweredownintheworld,andhaddeterminedontakingupthehorse—stealinglineofbusiness。\"
\"Why,Ishould—ButItellyouwhat,friend,Iseeyouaretryingtopumpme,andItellyouplainlythatIwillhearsomethingfromyouwithrespecttoyourart,beforeItellyouanythingmore。Nowhowwouldyouwhisperahorseoutofafield,providedyouweredownintheworld,andsoforth?\"
\"Ah,ah,Iseeyouareuptoagame,Mr。Romany:however,I
amagentlemaninmind,ifnotbybirth,andIscorntodotheunhandsomethingtoanybodywhohasdealtfairlytowardsme。NowyoutoldmesomethingIdidn’tknow,andI’lltellyousomethingwhichperhapsyoudoknow。Iwhispersahorseoutofafieldinthisway:Ihaveamareinmystable;well,intheearlyseasonoftheyearIgoesintomystable—Well,IputsthespongeintoasmallbottlewhichIkeepscorked。
Itakesmybottleinmyhand,andgoesintoafield,supposebynight,wherethereisaveryfinestaghorse。Imanagewithgreatdifficultytogetwithintenyardsofthehorse,whostandsstaringatmejustreadytorunaway。Ithenuncorksmybottle,pressesmyfore—fingertothesponge,andholdsitouttothehorse,thehorsegivesasniff,thenastart,andcomesnearer。Icorksupmybottleandputsitintomypocket。Mybusinessisdone,forthenexttwohoursthehorsewouldfollowmeanywhere—thedifficulty,indeed,wouldbetogetridofhim。Nowisthatyourwayofdoingbusiness?\"
\"Mywayofdoingbusiness?Mercyuponus!Iwouldn’tstealahorseinthatway,or,indeed,inanyway,forallthemoneyintheworld:however,letmetellyou,foryourcomfort,thatatricksomewhatsimilarisdescribedinthehistoryofHerodotus。\"
\"InthehistoryofHerod’sass!\"saidthejockey;\"well,ifI
didwriteabook,itshouldbeaboutsomethingmoregenteelthanadickey。\"
\"IdidnotsayHerod’sass,\"saidI,\"butHerodotus,averygenteelwriter,Iassureyou,whowroteahistoryaboutverygenteelpeople,inalanguagenolessgenteelthanGreek,morethantwothousandyearsago。Therewasadisputeastowhoshouldbekingamongstcertainimperiouschieftains。Atlasttheyagreedtoobeyhimwhosehorseshouldneighfirstonacertainday,infrontoftheroyalpalace,beforetherisingofthesun;foryoumustknowthattheydidnotworshipthepersonwhomadethesunaswedo,butthesunitself。Sooneofthesechieftains,talkingoverthemattertohisgroom,andsayinghewonderedwhowouldbeking,thefellowsaid,’Whyyou,master,orIdon’tknowmuchabouthorses。’Sothedaybeforethedayoftrial,whatdoesthegroomdo,buttakehismaster’shorsebeforethepalaceandintroducehimtoamareinthestable,andthenleadhimforthagain。Well,earlythenextdayallthechieftainsontheirhorsesappearedinfrontofthepalacebeforethedawnofday。Notahorseneighedbutone,andthatwasthehorseofhimwhohadconsultedwithhisgroom,who,thinkingoftheanimalwithinthestable,gavesuchaneighthatallthebuildingsrang。Hisriderwasforthwithelectedking,andabravekinghewas。Sothisshowswhatseeminglywonderfulthingsmaybebroughtaboutbyalittlepreparation。\"
\"Itdoth,\"saidthejockey;\"whatwasthechap’sname?\"
\"Hisname—hisname—DariusHystaspes。\"
\"Andthegroom’s?\"
\"Idon’tknow。\"
\"Andhemadeagoodking?\"
\"First—rate。\"
\"Onlythink!well,ifhemadeagoodking,whatawonderfulkingthegroomwouldhavemade,throughwhoseknowledgeof’orseshewasputonthethrone。Andnowanotherquestion,Mr。RomanyRye,haveyouparticularwordswhichhavepowertosootheoraggravatehorses?\"
\"Youshouldaskme,\"saidI,\"whetherIhavehorsesthatcanbeaggravatedorsoothedbyparticularwords。Nowordshaveanyparticularpoweroverhorsesorotheranimalswhohaveneverheardthembefore—how,shouldthey?Butcertainanimalsconnectideasofmiseryorenjoymentwithparticularwordswhichtheyareacquaintedwith。I’llgiveyouanexample。IknewacobinIrelandthatcouldbedriventoastateofkickingmadnessbyaparticularword,usedbyaparticularperson,inaparticulartone;butthatwordwasconnectedwithaverypainfuloperationwhichhadbeenperformeduponhimbythatindividual,whohadfrequentlyemployeditatacertainperiodwhilsttheanimalhadbeenunderhistreatment。Thesamecobcouldbesoothedinamomentbyanotherword,usedbythesameindividualinaverydifferentkindoftone;thewordwasdeaghblasda,orsweettasted。Sometimeaftertheoperation,whilstthecobwasyetunderhishands,thefellow—whowaswhattheIrishcallafairysmith—haddoneallhecouldtosoothethecreature,andhadatlastsucceededbygivingitgingerbread—buttons,ofwhichthecobbecamepassionatelyfond。Invariably,however,beforegivingitabutton,hesaid,’Deaghblasda,’
withwhichwordthecobbydegreesassociatedanideaofunmixedenjoyment:soifhecouldrousethecobtomadnessbythewordwhichrecalledthetorturetoitsremembrance,hecouldaseasilysootheitbytheotherword,whichthecobknewwouldbeinstantlyfollowedbythebutton,whichthesmithneverfailedtogivehimafterusingtheworddeaghblasda。\"
\"Thereisnothingwonderfultobedone,\"saidthejockey,\"withoutagooddealofpreparation,asIknowmyself。Folksstareandwonderatcertainthingswhichtheywouldonlylaughatiftheyknewhowtheyweredone;andtoprovewhatI
sayistrue,Iwillgiveyouoneortwoexamples。Caneitherofyoulendmeahandkerchief?Thatwon’tdo,\"saidhe,asI
presentedhimwithasilkone。\"Iwishforadelicatewhitehandkerchief。That’sjustthekindofthing,\"saidhe,astheHungarianofferedhimafinewhitecambrichandkerchief,beautifullyworkedwithgoldatthehems;\"nowyoushallseemesetthishandkerchiefonfire。\"\"Don’tlethimdosobyanymeans,\"saidtheHungarian,speakingtomeinGerman,\"itisthegiftofaladywhomIhighlyadmire,andIwouldnothaveitburntfortheworld。\"\"Hehasnooccasiontobeunderanyapprehension,\"saidthejockey,afterIhadinterpretedtohimwhattheHungarianhadsaid,\"Iwillrestoreittohimuninjured,ormynameisnotJackDale。\"
Thenstickingthehandkerchiefcarelesslyintotheleftsideofhisbosom,hetookthecandle,whichbythistimehadburntverylow,andholdinghisheadback,heappliedtheflametothehandkerchief,whichinstantlyseemedtocatchfire。\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat?\"saidhetotheHungarian。
\"Why,thatyouhaveruinedme,\"saidthelatter。\"Noharmdone,Iassureyou,\"saidthejockey,whopresently,clappinghishandonhisbosom,extinguishedthefire,andreturnedthehandkerchieftotheHungarian,askinghimifitwasburnt。\"Iseenoburnuponit,\"saidtheHungarian;\"butinthenameofGott,howcouldyousetitonfirewithoutburningit?\"\"Ineversetitonfireatall,\"saidthejockey;\"Isetthisonfire,\"showingusapieceofhalf—