XXII.
THE FIGHT AND THE VICTORY.
Father Brighthopes and his companion found Mr. Royden examining the injured eye of the sorrel colt, which Mark held by the halter in the yard.
"Can anything be done for it?" asked the jockey, anxiously.
Mr. Royden shook his head, with a pained expression. He loved horses above all other domestic animals, and a fine colt like Mark's he regarded almost as a human being. He could not, it seemed, have felt much worse, had he witnessed the effects of a similar injury upon a fellow-mortal.
"Spoilt, an't it?"
"Yes," said the farmer; "I see no help for it."
"I know," rejoined Mark, "the sight is ruined. But is the eye going to look very bad? Will he show it much?"
"Ah, Mark!" said Chester, rather harshly, for a fresh suspicion had entered his mind; "that hurt can never be covered up. You can't trade him off for a sound horse, if you try."
Mark turned upon him, with a fierce oath.