"Stole him?"
"Not much."
"Picked him up astray?"
The young surveyor, laughing, shook his head.
"Then how in the name o' seven kingdoms did ye come by him, if ye didn't find him, nor steal him, nor raise him from a colt, nor buy him, nor have him gi'n tew ye?"
"I borrowed him of a neighbor, and drove him to a show, where the old elephant broke loose and had the handling of him for about a second and a half. The owners of the elephant paid the damages; and I kept the horse. Nobody thought he would get well; but he is now scarcely lame at all. I can show you the scars where he was hurt."
The two had approached the wagon during this talk; and now the old man examined the horse with a good deal of curiosity.
"That your dog tew?"
"Yes, sir. Here, Lion!"
"Cost ye suth'n, didn't it, to bring yer animals West with ye?"