There are rapids and falls farther along the river.

It will do no harm to go down there and look about, at any rate." On Saturday morning, therefore, Mr.Byles Gridley set forth to procure a conveyance to make a visit, as he said, dawn the river, and perhaps be gone a day or two.

He went to a stable in the village, and asked if they could let him have a horse.
The man looked at him with that air of native superiority which the companionship of the generous steed confers on all his associates, down to the lightest weight among the jockeys.
"Wal, I hain't got nothin' in the shape of a h'oss, Mr.Gridley.

I've got a mare I s'pose I could let y' have." "Oh, very well," said the old master, with a twinkle in his eye as sly as the other's wink,--he had parried a few jokes in his time,--"they charge half-price for mares always, I believe." That was a new view of the subject.

It rather took the wind out of the stable-keeper, and set a most ammoniacal fellow, who stood playing with a currycomb, grinning at his expense.