The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31

Mr. Andrew 2. Hay had decided to 60 to
London. He knew fair amount of English; |;
for several years before a box from wrecked
vessel had been cast ashore on the island,
and it had happened to contain some useful
books and papers-a text of Homer, inter
lined with Mr. Gladstone's translation into
English, several Greek-English primers, a
Liddell and Scott's Lexicon, some Oilendorfs,
a Lindley Murray, Webster's American Die
| tionary, several issues of the Times, and a
rhyming dictionary. Thus had A. p Hay
been enabled to learn the English language
The journey to England was full of un-
pleasantness. There were difficulties, too,
about meals; the Centaur having conceived
growing distaste for hay and beans. The
coaster had landed them at Otranto, where
Bowes promptly engaged private stable
for his master. But now occurred the first
difficulty-they had no money. The Captain
of the coaster had yet to be paid.
But Bowes contrived to obtain, on credit,
suit of clothes in place of his tunic of
woven grasses.
"There's only one way out of this, sir"
said Bowes, after a spell of thought; 1
shall have TO sell yOu!"
81 fail to catch your meaning" said Mr.
Hay, Ioftily paving the ground. Sell
me?"
"That's it, sir; that's the only plan can
back for place. You ought to fetch good
round sum, sir. Why sir, look at you
there you stand, Ill deep in the girth,
lovely clean houghs and pasterns, sir-look
at em yourself if you amt satisfed-sound
wind, well planted, born fiier, grand action.
Look at your pedigree that's enoughl No
vice-lady could hunt you, sir-oh, Pm not
saying it to fatter you, sir! AS for selling
r11a
finger to his nose, "thats just bit of prac-
tice, that's all We shall have to sharp 'em.
Let me alone to see to that"
"Well, Bowes," said the master, =" have
every confidence in you, although do not
quite grasp your plan. / must only request
that you will do no act calculated to lessen
our self-respect or"-
SECT us warned off the course?" said
Bowes. "Oh, thatll be all square"
7" But you forget that no one will buy me
without seeing my head! If l show that,
all is lost!"
Bowes merely winked, and went out.
Otranto was q most unprOmising place for
selling fine horse; but Bowes made in
auiries, and discovered that rich English
man, much given TO horses-a gentleman
jockey-whose yacht was cruising in those
parts, happened to be in the town. So Bowes
fetched out Mr.. Hay, mounted him, and
caracoled him all over the place where a
horse could manage to go and presently he
caught the eye of the gentleman-jo jockey.
The latter had never seen such picture of
a horse in his life, and yearned to own Mr..
Hay. !;
Bowes explained that he wasn't for sale
that, in fact, he was half sold already to an
American millionaire. Bowes had picked
Ii Eek,
his master, you see.)
" 1 must have him. On his back l could
win every steeplechase in the kingdom. Pll
give you 81 900 for him."
"Down?" said Bowes.
"Yes," replied the other. "I'n put off to
my yacht and fetch it,"
In an hour the Ell 600 in gold and italian
paper was in Bowes's possession. Bowes
had explained how it would be unwise to
unwrap Mr.. Hays head and neck then, as
cold wind was blowing, and the horse had
caught slight cold on his voyage. The
jockey was SO overcome by the magnificence
of the visible parts of Mr.. Hay, and SO con-
WINGED of the wonderful bargain he had
made, that he was content to take the head
and neck for granted rather than let him 90
to the American millionaire; so Mr.. Hay
was put back in the stable for the night, and
one of the yachts crew left there to see to
his safety.
Shortly after dark Bowes picked the lock
and crept in. Silently he placed newly
acquired saddle on Mr.. Hays back.
what now?" whispered Andrew P. Hay.
"We must be off at once and cover as many
miles as we can before daylight" whispered
Bowes.
But" objected Mr.. Hay, "this is i'm
moral!n
All the refined morality of the ancient
Centaurs welled up in him.
Poohi" whispered Bowes. Meaning
no offense, sir; but it's got to be done!"
At this moment the sailor woke and rose
to see what was going on. Now, gentleman
and man of honor as Mr.. Hay was down to
the waist, the instinct of battle and self
preservation in his equine portion instantly
gained the ascendency in those moments
when action was called for; aud it was with
feelings of the most unfeigned horror and
regret that he felt himself backing toward
the unhappy sailor and taking up favor
able position for an effective kick.
"Bowes!" he said, in an agony of appre-
hension. Quick! Don't you see what Pm
doing? For Heavens sake give me a cut
over the quarters Here-pull my head up,
so that can't lash out!"
But it was too late; the equine nature
situated in the bind-guarters had prevailed;
there was an end of the sailor. Andrew P.
Hay hid his face in his hands with bitter
sob and suffered himself to be led out and
mounted in silence.
You won't mind my presumption in
wearing spurs, sir?" he said, apologetically.
"We might want 'em when you get tired"
Andrew p. Hay hardly heard the remark;
his thoughts were absorbed by the regret
able incident Of the sailor; at a touch of
the spur he broke mechanically into gal
lop, which he continued unbrokenly far into
the night. Suddenly he pulled up.
"Bowes," he said, " I'm famishing-I must
have meal; Pve eaten nothing since the
day before yesterday"
"All right, sir" replied Bowes, as he pre-
pared to strap on a nose-bag filled with chaff
and locnst beans; "you shall have BRAN
mash as soon as ever we reach -
Take away this stuff" said Mr.. Hay,
impatiently. "Do You hear? I've taken a
dislike to hay and beans and bran-mashes
they're undignifed food for a gentleman to
eat, and I've done with them. / want
biftek aux pommes frites!"
Cant get it here. sir" said Bowes, touch
ing his cap. "Oh; why, I've got some sand
witches and bottle of Marsala in the bag.
But, if l may make so bold, the beans would
have more stay in 'em -
For the equine portion, no doubt. Con-
fouud nv enuine pOrtion RnweSi IT'S In