The Magicians Show Box and Other Stories | Page 3

great flourish.
"Ah, ha! that is it, is it?" said the magician; and out flashed a steel
dagger. At it they went, striking their weapons against each other with
might and main. At every stroke Gaspar's wooden dagger became
sharper and sharper, and when he left off fighting he found it was
changed into good steel; but it was useless to hope for victory from
such a combatant, who might have pierced him through and through at
any moment, as Gaspar very soon saw; so he put up his dagger, and
they sat down on the stone, cracking their nuts and jokes together in the
old way.
"Now," said Gaspar, "if I had a few bags of nuts like these, I could

make my fortune. They do not grow in our village, and I have told the
boys about them until they are all wild to have some. But I suppose you
cannot give me any, for although you never get out of them, you seem
only to have a handful at a time."
"Gaspar," answered the gray man, "there is no end to my nuts; we
might crack here until doomsday, and I should still have thousands and
thousands of uncracked ones left. I do not think much of them myself,
but you are young and easily amused, and if you would like a bag or
two, why, here they are;" and he held up his hands with a great sack
full of nuts in each. Gaspar jumped on his horse, dragged the bags up
after him, while the little man looked smiling on, and rode home to the
village.
What a shouting there was when the boys saw him riding through the
streets with his great bags of nuts! They offered him bat and ball, hoop
and kite; but Gaspar said he did not care for such childish things; he
wanted something to be of use on his travels round the world. "You had
better go to Lawyer Clang's," called out a newsboy; "he has a horse
such as never was seen afore."
Gaspar rode straight to Lawyer Clang's office, and walked in, horse,
sacks, and all.
"Sir," said he, "what will you give me for this cantering horse and these
very hard nuts?"
"My horse Wayfare; and a more serviceable animal was never known. I
am getting a little tired of him myself, but he is just the thing for you, if
you wish to see the world."
The horse was brought round, a great gaunt creature, but handsomely
bridled and saddled, and Gaspar thought he looked tough and sound,
and would be far more useful than his cantering horse, which was only
suitable for pleasure riding, so he changed horses, threw in the nuts,
and rode off, bidding the boys good by, for many long years, he told
them.
When he came to the first milestone he found the mossy spring was
frozen over. At the second he saw the leafless apple tree, with a
deserted bird's nest upon it; and at the third he discerned something that
looked like the little magician; but he believed it was only a snow
wreath: at any rate, it did not stop the way, and on he rode, exulting,
though a little cold.

It was all very pleasant until night came; and then he was glad to see an
inn, with a bright fire shining through the windows. He pulled in the
reins, but the horse would not stop. He pulled harder and harder, and
called "Whoa!" until he was breathless. It was all of no use. On went
the horse, and the inn, with its bright windows, was soon left far behind.
And over the wide plain he rode all night, through the wind and the
snow, which was not at all agreeable. In the morning he was quite faint,
and wanted to stop at a cottage for some breakfast, and a good warming
for himself, and some oats for his horse. But no; Wayfare had nothing
to do with such trifles. He went calmly on, always at the same jog-trot
pace, and that not a very easy one. Gaspar had to catch at some berries
as he rode through the woods, but found them poor fare, and was glad
to find himself, the next day, getting into a warmer climate, where even
oranges grew; but not many could he gather as he rode by the trees, and
it was very provoking to see the horse, instead of stopping at a running
brook, trot straight through it, and across a green pasture, as if it were
all a parched desert.
"What an old fogy of a horse he is! I am sure he must be made of
wood," exclaimed Gaspar; and he gave a great pound on the horse's
neck.