I said: "What does this mean? You don't think

I'm going to pay this, do you?"

All the civility dropped from my guide's manner like a mask, and he said, jeeringly—

"I 'spose you call yourself a gen'leman"

"I shall pay nothing of the sort," I continued. "Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Yes!"

I looked about for some implement of castigation, more weighty than my light riding-whip, and said—

"What d'you say?"

He moved off to a safe distance, and replied:

"If you not a fool, I like to know what you come to this town for nuffin for. You must be a fool, man."

I saw there was nothing to be gained by following up this branch of the discussion, so I returned to the original subject, and said, decisively—

"I shall not pay you anything, for your impertinence."

"'Spose you no pay, I keep the horse."

The thought of what my friend's face would be like if I returned to Bathurst without his steed, was quite enough, and I hurried out of the village to the spot where I had left the animal. He was nowhere