Stop the fust Frenchman you meet and give him a shillin' to teach you to swear, and he'll go like a lamb.' "I see'd what was the matter of the hoss by his action as soon as we started; but I warn't agoin' for to let on to him about it.

I wanted to see the sport.

Well, he took his hoss by the bridle and led him over the bridge, and he follered kindly, then he mounted, and no hoss could go better.

Arter a little, we came to another bridge agin, and the same play was acted anew, same coaxin', same threatenin', and same thrashin'; at last pony put down his head, and began to shake his tail, a gettin' ready for another bout of kickin'; when Steve got off and led him, and did the same to every bridge we come to.
"'It's no use,' sais I, 'you must larn them oaths, he's used to 'em and misses them shocking.

A sailor, a hoss, and a nigger ain't no good without you swear at 'em; it comes kinder nateral to them, and they look for it, fact I assure you.