, 1877-08-04
A Game Of Bluff.

had arrived at the outskirts of town, and
we stopped before dirty looking wooden
cottage.
A tall man. dressed in long coat reach
ing to his heels, bright yellow trousers, which
were stuffed into pair Of read leather boots,
while an enormous black sheepskin cap cover
ed his head. came ont and asked my busi-
ness. said l wanted three horses to go to
the next stage, and asked him what he would
drive me there for, the regular postal tariff
being about two rubles.
Zone of noble birth" replied the fellow,
"the roads are bad, but my horses viii gal
lop the whole way. They are excellent
horses; all the people in the town look at
them and envy me. They say, how fat they
are Look, how round The Governor has
not got any horses ike mine in his stable.
l spoil them; l cherish them; and they
gallop Ike the wind. The people look,
wonder, and admire Come and see the dear
little animals"
Il have no doubt about it. They are ex-
cellent horses" | replied g but what Will
yOu take me for -
"Let US say four ruhles, your excellency,
and give me one on account. One little whole
silver ruble; for the sake of God let me put
it in my pocket, and we will bless you"
"Al right" was my answer. "Send the
horses to the Tzarekoe SelO Inn Immediate
ly"
Presently the fellow rushed into my room,
and, bowing to the ground, took off his cap
with grandiose AIR, then, drawing out the
money had gwen him from some hidden
recess IN the EeghborhoOd OF his skin, thrust
the ruble into my hand and exclaimed:
Little father, my uncle owns one OF the
horses he is very angry He says that he
was not consulted IN the matter, and that he
loves the animal Ike brother. My uncle
viii not let his horse leave the stable for
less than five uhles What is to be done !:
/ told him that had agreed to take you, and
even showed him the money but he is hard
hearted and stern"
Very well" 1 said, bring round the
horses.
In . few minutes the fellow returned, and
exclaimed: Cone of noble birth, l am
ashamed -
'Quite right, / said "you have every
reason to be so bat, 90 on /; is your uncle's
horse dead -
"No, one of noble birth, not so bad as that /;
but my brother is vexed. He has share In
one of the animals; he VIII not let me drive
him 70 the next stationsfor less than six ru-
bles, and the man, putting on an expression
in which cunning, avariee and pretended sor-
row were blended, rubbed his forehead, and
added, "what shall We do!'
said, ''YOu have grandmother
eyes, he replied, much surprised. ''How
did You know that | have A very old
grandmother.
"Wen, replied, ego and tell her that,
fearing lest she should be annoyed if any ac-
cident were to happen during our journey
for You know misfortunes occur sometimes /;
God sends them, added, piously. 8 Yes,
he does" interrupted the man. :" We are
simple people, your Excsllency" !And not
wishing to hurt the old lady's feelings
should the fore-leg of your unele's horse or
the hind-Ieg of your brothers suffer on the
road, have changed my mind, and shall
not 90 with you to-day, but take post-horses
tomorrow.
The man now became alarmed, thinking
he was about TO lose his fare. He rubbed
his forehead violently, and then exclaimed {:
Il will take your Excenency for five ru-
bles
"But your brother
"Never mind he is an animal; let us
go" a.
"No," | answered, Il shall wait; the
most horses are beautiful horses; | am told
that they gallop like the wind; all the peeo-
nIe in the town look at them. and the IN
spector loves them >,
sIet us say four rubles, your Excellency: .
..But your uncle might beat you l should
not Ike you to he hurt. "
s.No. twas the answer, eve viii 60, and,
the knotty point being thus settled, we drove
BmnGbg's Ride to hhica.