“No,” said Peter; “you made the banter, now make your pass.” “Well, I’m never afraid to price my hosses. You must give me twenty-five dollars boot.” “Oh certainly; say fifty, and my saddle and bridle in. Here, Neddy, my son, take away daddy’s horse.” “Well,” said Blossom, “I’ve made my pass, now you make yours.” “I’m for short talk in a horse swap; and therefore always tell a gentleman, at once, what I mean to do. You must give me ten dollars.” Blossom swore absolutely, roundly, and profanely, that he never would give boot. “Well,” said Peter, “I didn’t care about trading; but you cut such high shines that I thought I’d like to back you out; and I’ve done it. Gentlemen, you see I’ve brought him to a hack.” “Come, old man,” said Blossom, “I’ve been joking with you. I begin to think you do want to trade; therefore give me five dollars and take Bullet. I’d rather lose ten dollars, any time, than not make a trade; though I hate to fling away a good hoss.” “Well,” said Peter, “I’ll be as clever as you are. Just put the five dollars on Bullet’s back and hand him over, it’s a trade.” Blossom swore again, as roundly as before, that he would not give boot; and, said he: “Bullet wouldn’t hold five dollars on his back no how. But as I bantered you, if you say an even swap, here’s at you.” “I told you,” said Peter, “I’d be as clever as you; therefore, here goes two dollars more, just for trade sake. Give me three dollars, and it’s a bargain.” Blossom repeated his former assertion; and here the parties stood for a long time, and the by-standers (for many were now collected,) began to taunt both parties. After some time, however, it was pretty unanimously decided that the old man had backed Blossom out. At length Blossom swore he “never would be backed out, for three dollars, after bantering a man;” and accordingly they closed the trade. “Now,” said Blossom, as he handed Peter the three dollars, “I’m a man, that when he makes a bad trade, makes the most of it until he can make a better. I’m for no rues and after-claps.” “That’s just my way,” said Peter; “I never goes to law to mend my bargains.” “Ah, you’re the kind of boy I love to trade with. Here’s your hoss, old man. Take the saddle and bridle off him, and I’ll strip yours; but lift up the blanket easy from Bullet’s back, for he’s a mighty tender-backed hoss.” The old man removed the saddle, but the blanket stuck fast. He attempted to raise it, and Bullet bowed himself, switched his tail, danced a little, and gave signs of biting. “Don’t hurt him, old man,” said Blossom archly; “take it off easy. I am, perhaps, a leetle of the best man at a horse-swap that ever catched a ’coon.” Peter continued to pull at the blanket more and more roughly; and Bullet became more and more _cavortish_: in so much, that when the blanket came off, he had reached the _kicking_ point in good earnest.