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age。 He turned the horse's head； let up on the reins and whistled。 I have never felt such a thrill as then。 Our horse leaped into the deep grass running like a wild deer。
'Hi there！ hi there！' Uncle Eb shouted； bouncing in his seat； as we went over stones and hummocks going like the wind。
'Go； ye brown devil！' he yelled； his hat flying off as he shook the reins。
The mare lost her stride； we flashed by and came up into the road。 Looking back I saw her jumping up and down a long way behind us and Dean whipping her。 Uncle Eb； his hands over the dasher； had pulled down to a trot Ahead of us we could see our folks … men and women … at the gate looking down the road at us waving hats and handkerchieis。 They had heard the noise of the battle。 Uncle Eb let up on the reins and looked back snorting with amusement。 In a moment we pulled up at our gate。 Dean came along slowly。
'Thet's a putty good mare；' said Uncle Eb。
'Yer welcome to her；' said Dean sullenly。
'Wouldn't hev her；' said Uncle Eb。
'Why not？' said the trader a look of relief coming over his face。
'Can't go fast enough for my use；' Uncle Eb answered。 'Ye can jest hitch her in here awhile an' the first day ye come over with a hundred dollars ye can hev her 'n the whistler； both on 'em。 Thet whistler's a grand hoss！ Can hold his breath longer'n any hoss I ever knew！'
The sum named was that we had paid him for the highiy accomplished animal。 Dean had the manhood to pay up then and there and said he would send for the other horse； which he never did。
'Guess he won't bother us any more when we stop t' look at the scenery；' said Uncle Eb； laughing as Dean drove away。 'Kind o' resky business buyin' hosses；' he added。 'Got t' jedge the owner as well as the hoss。 If there's anything the matter with his conscience it'll come out in the hoss somewhere every time。 Never knew a mean man t' own a good hoss。 Remember； boy； 's a lame soul thet drives a limpin' hoss。'
'No use talkin'； Bill ain' no jedge uv a hoss' said David Brower。 'He'll hev t' hev an education er he'll git t' the poorhouse someday sartin。'
'Wall he's a good jedge o' gals anyway；' said Uncle Eb。
As for myself I was now hopelessly confirmed in my dislike of farming and I never traded horses again。
Chapter 23
Late in August Uncle Eb and I took our Black Hawk stallion to the fair in HilIsborough and showed him for a prize。 He was fit for the eye of a king when we had finished grooming him； that morning； and led him out； rearing in play； his eyes flashing from under his broad plume； so that all might have a last look at him。 His arched neck and slim barrel glowed like satin as the sunlight fell upon him。 His black mane flew； he shook the ground with his hoofs playing at the halter's end。 He hated a harness and once in it lost half his conceit。 But he was vainest of all things in Faraway when we drove off with him that morning。
All roads led to HilIsborough fair time。 Up and down the long hills we went on a stiff jog passing lumber wagons with generations enough in them to make a respectable genealogy； the old people in chairs； light wagons that carried young men and their sweethearts； baclswoodsmen coming out in ancient vehicles upon reeling； creaking wheels to get food for a year's reflection … all thickening the haze of the late summer with the dust of the roads。 And Hillsborough itself was black with people。 The shouts of excited men； the neighing of horses； the bellowing of cattle； the wailing of infants； the howling of vendors； the pressing crowd； had begun to sow the seed of misery in the minds of those accustomed only to the peaceflil quietude of the farm。 The staring eye； the palpitating heart； the aching head； were successive stages in the doom of many。 The fair had its floral hall carpeted with sawdust and redolent of cedar； its dairy house； its mechanics' hall sacred to fiuming implements； its long sheds ftill of sheep and cattle； its dining…hall； its temporary booths of rough lumber； its half…mile track and grandstand。 Here voices of beast and vendor mingied in a chorus of cupidity and distress。 In Floral Hall Sol Rollin was on exhibition。 He gave me a cold nod； his lips set for a tune as yet inaudible。 He was surveying sundry examples of rustic art that hung on the circular railing of the gallery and tryingto preserve a calm breast。 He was looking at Susan Baker's painted cow that hung near us。
'Very descriptive；' he said when I pressed him for his notion of it。 'Rod Baker's sister Susan made thet cow。 Gits tew dollars an' fifty cents every fair time … wish I was dewin 's well。'
'That's one of the most profitable cows in this country；' I said。
'Looks a good deal like a new breed。'
'Yes；' he answered soberly； then he set his lips； threw a sweeping glance into the gallery； and passed on。
Susan Baker's cow was one of the permanent features of the county fair； and was indeed a curiosity not less remarkable than the sacred ox of Mr Bamum。
Here also I met a group of the pretty girls who had been my schoolmates。 They surrounded me； chattering like magpies。
'There's going to be a dance at our house tonight；' said one of them； 'and you must come。'
'I cannot； I must go home；' I said。
'Of course！' said a red…cheeked saucy miss。 'The stuck…up thing！ He wouldn't go anywhere unless he could have his sister with him。'
Then they went away laughing。
I found Ab Thomas at the rifle range。 He was whittling as he considered a challenge from Tip Taylor to shoot a match。 He turned and 'hefted' the rifle； silently； and then he squinted over the barrel two or three times。
'Dunno but what I'll try ye once；' he said presently； 'jes t' see。'
Once started they grew red in their faces and shot themselves weary in a reckless contest of skiIl and endurance。 A great hulking fellow； half drunk and a bit quarrelsome； came up； presently； and endeavoured to help Ab hold his rifle。 The latter brushed him away and said nothing for a moment。 But every time he tried to take aim the man jostled him。
An looked up slowly and calmly； his eyebrows tilted for his aim； and said； 'Go off I tell ye。' Then he set himself and took aim again。
'Le'me hold it；' said the man； reaching for the barrel。 'Shoot better if I do the ainin'。' A laugh greeted this remark。 Ab looked up again。 There was a quick start in his great slouching figure。
'Take yer hand off o' thet；' he said a little louder than before。
The man； aching for more applause； grew more impertinent Ab quietly handed the rifle to its owner。 Then something happened suddenly。 It was so quickly over I am not quite sure of the order of business； but anyhow he seized the intruder by the shoulders flinging him down so heavily it knocked the dust out of the grass。
'A fight！' somebody shouted and men and boys came runing from all sides。 We were locked in a pushing crowd before I could turn。 The intruder lay stunned a moment。 Then he rose； bare headed； his back covered with dust； pushed his way out and ran。
Ab turned quietly to the range。
'Hedn't orter t' come an' try t' dew my aimin'；' he said mildly； by way of protest； 'I won't hev it。'
Then he enquired about the score and calmly took aim again。 The stallion show came on that afternoon。
'They can't never beat thet hoss；' Uncle Eb had said to me。
''Fraid they will；' I answered。 'They're better hitched for one thing。'
'But they hain't got the ginger in 'em；' said he； 'er the git up 'n git。 If we can show what's in him the Hawk'll beat 'em easy。'
If we won I was to get the prize but I had small hope of winning。 When I saw one after another prance out； in sparkling silver harness adorned with rosettes of ribbon … light stepping； beautiful creatures all of them … I could see nothing but defeat for us。 Indeed I could see we had been too confident。 I dreaded the moment when Uncle Eb should drive down with Black Hawk in a plain leather harness； drawing a plainer buggy。 I had planned to spend the prize money taking Hope to the harvest ball at Rickard's； and I had worked hard to put the Hawk in good fettle。 I began to feel the bitterness of failure。
'Black Hawk！ Where is Black Hawk？' said one of the judges loudly。
'Owned by David Brower o' Faraway；' said anot