The two horses Herr Jensen referred to were in a pasture, tethered to an iron spike driven in the ground, with a rope giving them a range of a few yards of grass.
"What do you think of these two horses, Bob?" said Hardy to Garth.
"Very good park hacks," said Garth, "and just the thing for a lady to ride."
"My man will try one of the horses if you like," said Hardy. "He is accustomed to horses."
Garth fetched the saddle he had rode over in, and a light snaffle bridle, and mounted, and, after the usual difficulties that always occur with colts, he rode the horse, sitting firm and easy in the saddle, to Herr Jensen's great admiration.
"He is a good horse," said Garth. "But, master, ask the governor one question, and that is how he feeds them in the winter."
"What does he say?" asked Herr Jensen.
"He asks how you feed your horses in the winter," replied Hardy.
"That is the difficulty," said Jensen. "We have little to give them in the winter and spring, and it is hard work to keep them alive. We cut our grass in the meadows twice yearly; the first hay is good, the second is not so good by a long way."
"Our notion is that a horse should always be kept well," said Hardy, "or his bone and sinew want firmness."