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many a tournament and feat of Norman chivalry； but now much used as
a show…place for cattle； where those who buy and sell beeves and
other beasts resort at stated periods。
So it came to pass that I stood upon this hill； observing a fair of
horses。
The reader is already aware that I had long since conceived a
passion for the equine race； a passion in which circumstances had
of late not permitted me to indulge。 I had no horses to ride； but
I took pleasure in looking at them； and I had already attended more
than one of these fairs： the present was lively enough； indeed
horse fairs are seldom dull。 There was shouting and whooping；
neighing and braying； there was galloping and trotting； fellows
with highlows and white stockings； and with many a string dangling
from the knees of their tight breeches； were running desperately；
holding horses by the halter； and in some cases dragging them
along； there were long…tailed steeds and dock…tailed steeds of
every degree and breed； there were droves of wild ponies； and long
rows of sober cart horses； there were donkeys； and even mules： the
last rare things to be seen in damp； misty England； for the mule
pines in mud and rain； and thrives best with a hot sun above and a
burning sand below。 There were … oh； the gallant creatures！ I
hear their neigh upon the wind； there were … goodliest sight of all
… certain enormous quadrupeds only seen to perfection in our native
isle； led about by dapper grooms； their manes ribanded and their
tails curiously clubbed and balled。 Ha！ ha！ … how distinctly do
they say； ha！ ha！
An old man draws nigh； he is mounted on a lean pony； and he leads
by the bridle one of these animals； nothing very remarkable about
that creature； unless in being smaller than the rest and gentle；
which they are not； he is not of the sightliest look； he is almost
dun； and over one eye a thick film has gathered。 But stay！ there
IS something remarkable about that horse； there is something in his
action in which he differs from all the rest： as he advances； the
clamour is hushed！ all eyes are turned upon him … what looks of
interest … of respect … and； what is this？ people are taking off
their hats … surely not to that steed！ Yes； verily！ men；
especially old men； are taking off their hats to that one…eyed
steed； and I hear more than one deep…drawn ah！
'What horse is that？' said I to a very old fellow； the counterpart
of the old man on the pony； save that the last wore a faded suit of
velveteen； and this one was dressed in a white frock。
'The best in mother England；' said the very old man； taking a
knobbed stick from his mouth； and looking me in the face； at first
carelessly； but presently with something like interest； 'he is old
like myself； but can still trot his twenty miles an hour。 You
won't live long； my swain； tall and over…grown ones like thee never
does； yet； if you should chance to reach my years； you may boast to
thy great…grand…boys thou hast seen Marshland Shales。'
Amain I did for the horse what I would neither do for earl nor
baron； doffed my hat； yes！ I doffed my hat to the wondrous horse；
the fast trotter； the best in mother England； and I too drew a deep
ah！ and repeated the words of the old fellows around。 'Such a
horse as this we shall never see again； a pity that he is so old。'
Now during all this time I had a kind of consciousness that I had
been the object of some person's observation； that eyes were
fastened upon me from somewhere in the crowd。 Sometimes I thought
myself watched from before； sometimes from behind； and occasionally
methought that； if I just turned my head to the right or left； I
should meet a peering and inquiring glance； and indeed once or
twice I did turn； expecting to see somebody whom I knew； yet always
without success； though it appeared to me that I was but a moment
too late； and that some one had just slipped away from the
direction to which I turned； like the figure in a magic lanthorn。
Once I was quite sure that there were a pair of eyes glaring over
my right shoulder； my attention； however； was so fully occupied
with the objects which I have attempted to describe； that I thought
very little of this coming and going； this flitting and dodging of
I knew not whom or what。 It was； after all； a matter of sheer
indifference to me who was looking at me。 I could only wish
whomsoever it might be to be more profitably employed； so I
continued enjoying what I saw； and now there was a change in the
scene； the wondrous old horse departed with his aged guardian；
other objects of interest are at hand； two or three men on
horseback are hurrying through the crowd； they are widely different
in their appearance from the other people of the fair； not so much
in dress； for they are clad something after the fashion of rustic
jockeys； but in their look … no light…brown hair have they； no
ruddy cheeks； no blue quiet glances belong to them； their features
are dark； their locks long； black； and shining； and their eyes are
wild； they are admirable horsemen； but they do not sit the saddle
in the manner of common jockeys； they seem to float or hover upon
it； like gulls upon the waves； two of them are mere striplings； but
the third is a very tall man with a countenance heroically
beautiful； but wild； wild； wild。 As they rush along； the crowd
give way on all sides； and now a kind of ring or circus is formed；
within which the strange men exhibit their horsemanship； rushing
past each other； in and out； after the manner of a reel； the tall
man occasionally balancing himself upon the saddle； and standing
erect on one foot。 He had just regained his seat after the latter
feat； and was about to push his horse to a gallop； when a figure
started forward close from beside me； and laying his hand on his
neck； and pulling him gently downward； appeared to whisper
something into his ear； presently the tall man raised his head；
and； scanning the crowd for a moment in the direction in which I
was standing； fixed his eyes full upon me； and anon the countenance
of the whisperer was turned； but only in part； and the side…glance
of another pair of wild eyes was directed towards my face； but the
entire visage of the big black man； half stooping as he was； was
turned full upon mine。
But now； with a nod to the figure who had stopped him； and with
another inquiring glance at myself； the big man once more put his
steed into motion； and； after riding round the ring a few more
times； darted through a lane in the crowd； and followed by his two
companions disappeared； whereupon the figure who had whispered to
him； and had subsequently remained in the middle of the space； came
towards me； and； cracking a whip which he held in his hand so
loudly that the report was nearly equal to that of a pocket pistol；
he cried in a strange tone：
'What！ the sap…engro？ Lor！ the sap…engro upon the hill！'
'I remember that word；' said I； 'and I almost think I remember you。
You can't be … '
'Jasper； your pal！ Truth； and no lie； brother。'
'It is strange that you should have known me；' said I。 'I am
certain； but for the word you used； I should never have recognised
you。'
'Not so strange as you may think； brother； there is something in
your face which would prevent people from forgetting you； even
though they might wish it； and your face is not much altered since
the time you wot of； though you are so much grown。 I thought it
was you； but to make sure I dodged about； inspecting you。 I
believe you felt me； though I never touched you； a sign； brother；
that we are akin； that we are dui palor … two relations。 Your
blood beat when mine was near； as mine always does at the coming of
a brother； and we became brothers in that lane。'
'And where are you staying？' said I； 'in this town？'
'Not in the town； the like of us don't find it exactly wholesome to
stay in towns； we keep abroad。 But I have little to do here … come
with me； and I'll show you where we stay。'
We descended the hill in the direction of the north； and passing
along the suburb reached the old Norman bridge； which we crossed；
the chalk precipice； with the ruin on its top； was now before us；
but turning to the left we walked swiftly along； and presently came
to some rising ground； which ascending； we found ourselves upon a
wild moor or heath。
'You are one of them；' said I； 'whom people call … '
'Just so；' said Jasper； 'but never mind what people call us。'
'And that tall handsome man on the hill； whom you whispered？ I
suppose he's one of ye。 What is his name？'
'Tawno Chikno；' said Jasper； 'which means the small one； we call
him such because he is the biggest man of all our nation。 You say
he is handsome； that is not the word； brother； he's the beaut