84 GOING TO COURT.

them to a great tub, nearly full of water,
which stood there. He then took down a
great sponge, almost as big as Rollo’s head,
and began washing down one of the horse’s
legs and breast.

‘Ts his breast tender?’ said Jonas.

“No,” said the man, feeling of the flesh on
each side, where the collar pressed upon it ;
“no, it seems perfectly well. You must have
taken good care of these horses, if you have
travelled far.”

“Pye watched them pretty closely,” said
Jonas. “ This is a pleasant village of yours
here.”’

“« Why, it is not much of a place,” said the
ostler, taking up another great sponge full
of water out of the tub; —“ but it is a shire
town, and that brings us a little business in
court time.”

“O, then that building with the cupola is
the court-house ?”’

“Yes,” said the ostler; ‘‘did not you see
the jail beyond it?”

“No,” said Jonas, “I did not observe it.
Is court sitting now?”

‘‘No, it rose last week,” said the ostler.

in a short time the horses were both