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George Borrow - The Man and His Books by Edward Thomas
page 236 of 365 (64%)

"'Kosko Divvus, Pal,' said Mr. Petulengro, riding through the water; 'are
you turning back?'

"I turned back with Mr. Petulengro."

At another time Jasper twists about like a weasel bewitching a bird, and
in so doing puts 50 pounds unnoticed into Lavengro's pocket. Lavengro is
indignant at the pleasantry. But Jasper insists; the money is for him to
buy a certain horse; if he will not take the money and buy the horse
there will be a quarrel. He has made the money by fair fighting in the
ring, has nowhere to put it, and seriously thinks that it were best
invested in this fine horse, which accordingly Borrow purchases and takes
across England, and sells at Horncastle Fair for 150 pounds. The next
scene shows Tawno Chikno at his best. Borrow has been trotting the horse
and racing it against a cob, amid a company that put him "wonderfully in
mind of the ancient horse-races of the heathen north," so that he almost
thought himself Gunnar of Lithend. But Tawno was the man to try the
horse at a jump, said Jasper. Tawno weighed sixteen stone, and the owner
thought him more likely to break the horse's back. Jasper became very
much excited, and offered to forfeit a handful of guineas if harm was
done.

"'Here's the man. Here's the horse-leaper of the world. . . .' Tawno,
at a bound, leaped into the saddle, where he really looked like Gunnar of
Hlitharend, save and except that the complexion of Gunnar was florid,
whereas that of Tawno was of nearly Mulatto darkness; and that all
Tawno's features were cast in the Grecian model, whereas Gunnar had a
snub nose. 'There's a leaping-bar behind the house,' said the landlord.
'Leaping-bar!' said Mr. Petulengro, scornfully. 'Do you think my black
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