The two sporting men assented at once, their confidence in Soft Sam’s judgment being unlimited, and it was agreed and understood that the two young men should jointly buy the mare, and have her trained and raced as the old man should direct.
When they met again the next night Alec gleefully told the old gentleman—
“I’ve bought the mare—got her for twenty quid; there was only one bid against me!”
“And what shall we do with her now?” said Huey.
“We?” interposed Alec. “Who said it was our horse? Did I not buy her and pay for her?”
“But you know it was agreed we should go shares!”
“Shares be blowed! What’s the good of half a horse to anybody? I bought her and paid for her. If you want a horse, buy one yourself!”
“You are a liar and a fraud!”
The response from Alec was a quick blow from the shoulder that knocked Huey down. Quickly jumping to his feet again, he rushed at Alec. It was a short smart fight, the old man sitting quietly by smoking and enjoying the mill, and no one at hand to interfere. It was finished by a knock-out blow from Alec that sent Huey dazed and stupid to the ground.
“Very well done!” said the old man. “With a little science you’d do inside the ropes. Now, you’d better shake hands and make it up.”