I sold my best horse last autumn, to an officer whose charger had been killed.

Now that sledging has begun, I want one which can travel fast and do the journey there in a day; so if you don't want to take it, and will accept a reasonable price, I will buy it." The offer was a welcome one.

With two splendid horses at his command--for he knew that good care would have been taken of the one left in camp--a third would only have been in the way; and this, although a good and useful beast, was scarce good-looking enough for an officer on the marshal's staff.

Therefore, after the usual amount of bargaining, he parted with it for a fair price.
The next morning early he went on board, the servant of the inn following with a great hamper of wine and provisions.

He was glad to see that a bright fire burned on an earthen hearth in the middle of the boat; the smoke finding its way out, partly through a hole cut in the thatch above it, partly by the opening at the fore end of the boat.