“You deserve better handling,” said I, as I went up to the cob and fondled it; whereupon it whinnied, and attempted to touch my face with its nose.
“Are ye not afraid of that beast?” said the smith, showing his fang. “Arrah, it’s vicious that he looks!”
“It’s at you, then!—I don’t fear him;” and thereupon I passed under the horse, between his hind legs.
“And is that all you can do, agrah?” said the smith.
“No,” said I, “I can ride him.”
“Ye can ride him, and what else, agrah?”
“I can leap him over a six-foot wall,” said I.
“Over a wall, and what more, agrah?”
“Nothing more,” said I; “what more would you have?”
“Can you do this, agrah?” said the smith; and he uttered a word which I had never heard before, in a sharp pungent tone. The effect upon myself was somewhat extraordinary, a strange thrill ran through me; but with regard to the cob it was terrible; the animal forthwith became like one mad, and reared and kicked with the utmost desperation.