"A chaw" is the slang short phrase for something to chew. This is made by twisting the halter into the animal's mouth so as to encircle the jaw. In this position the rope is thought by some knowing people to answer the purposes of a bridle. To this rope the boy hangs, rolling to either side; now, nearly off--and now, jerked from his seat, as "dobbin," after repeated urgings, starts off into the lazy pretense at a trot. Anything inserted into a horse's mouth provokes the curiosity of the animal. It is felt and poked about with the tongue, till at last the lingual organ is, by the exercise of much ingenuity, inserted beneath the obstacle. In this state of affairs, "dobbin" and the pretty boy finish the latter half of the journey. The youngster laughing, as the rough action of the horse bumps him up and down, he all the time dragging at the halter. Before home is reached, night has set in; the boy dismounts, and with all the simplicity his face can assume leads "dobbin" to the homestead. The boy is protesting about being so very tired after his long walk, when the horse's mouth is discovered to be stained with blood. The youthful expression of surprise exceeds that of the elder's. Next the halter is found to be rich with the same fluid. The horse's mouth is then opened, it is full of blood, and the tongue nearly cut through. Accusations are made against the lad; at first they are replied to with defiance; at last they are propitiated with tears, drawn forth by the idea of honesty being suspected. Youthful knowing, however, is not in the long run a match for the self-interest of age; and perseverance is rewarded by a full confession.