The old horse is ready this two hours.

I've took more nor three quarts o' dander out iv 'is hide, and gi'en 'im four quarts o' water and a pail iv oats, an' he'll go." Mike nodded his head as if he were profoundly sure of it.

Jim had used horses in his life, in the old days of lumbering and logging, and was quite at home with them.

He had had many a drive with Mike, and knew the animal he would be required to handle--a large, hardy, raw-boned creature, that had endured much in Mike's hands, and was quite equal to the present emergency.
As soon as Jim had eaten his supper, and Mike's wife had put up for him food enough to last him and such accessions to his party as he expected to secure during the night, and supplied him abundantly with wrappings, he went to the stable, mounted the low, strong wagon before which Mike had placed the horse, and with a hearty "good luck to ye!" from the Irishman ringing in his ears, started on the road to Sevenoaks.

This portion of the way was easy.