THE HORSE IMMORTAL 83 



opposing armies, exposed to a hurricane of fire 

 beyond example, refusing to be rescued, moved 

 by a love stronger than death. 



The young of the clergy will tell us all about 

 the lower animal who does not subscribe to the 

 tenets of the church, and so must perish ever- 

 lastingly despite the Father's care. Yet if 

 they read the Prophets and the Revelations 

 they will find chariots of fire, and see in visions 

 the deathless chargers ridden by Archangels. 

 Are all the Hosts of Heaven infantry ? We 

 have the full authority of the Holy Bible for an 

 idea that horses may be immortal. 



But then the young of science have assured 

 us that the clergy talk a deal of nonsense, and 

 that the Holy Scriptures are so much folk lore. 

 Our modern teachers, unused to sleeping out- 

 doors, have never seen the great heavens 

 thrown open every night. They believe in 

 nothing they have not seen, and those I meet 

 have not seen very much. To them the lower 

 animal is hardly a personal friend, but rather 

 an automaton steered by instincts, built on 

 much the same principles as a dirigible torpedo. 

 The " instincts " have to account for deeds 

 which in a man would be attributed to love or 

 valour. 



I often meet young people who gently wave 



