238 WOLF-HUNTING. 



sarcastically. " Not I, let me tell you ; not one sous. He's a 

 dead horse, he is, if he lies there till he grows chilled and gets 

 inflammation, that's certain. And you'll pay for him, of course, 

 if you won't suffer me to save his life by getting him, as I best 

 can, out of this mire." 



The poor beast's nose was now resting on the edge of a rut, 

 while his belly was deeply imbedded in the watery slush ; so, as 

 there was doubtless some truth in the horse-dealer's argument, I 

 endeavoured to appease his wrath by a soft answer, telling him 

 that, short of fire, we were quite ready to give him all the help 

 in our power ; and that, if he would make another effort, I would 

 handle the bridle, while Keryfan or he cracked him up about the 

 quarters with my hunting-thong. 



To this he assented, but evidently against his inclination ; 

 and as he puffed away briskly at his cigar, he continued his evil 

 vaticination " He's a dead horse, I tell you, if he lies here 

 much longer ; and there's nothing will move him but fire ; that 

 I know." 



I then took both reins over the animal's head, and, patting 

 him gently on the neck, I fancied I could discern a slight 

 improvement in the sad expression of his eye ; and while Keryfan 

 proceeded to touch him up with his thong, the horse-dealer 

 gripped him by the root of the tail, and endeavoured to lift his 

 quarters, or pretended to do so, clear of the mire. In an instant 

 the beast sprung upon his legs, and before I could scramble out 

 of his way, he almost jumped on top of me ; he then set to 

 kicking furiously, clipping his tail close between his legs, and 

 looking like a horse driven mad by rage or pain. 



We did not know it then, but shortly afterwards it oozed out 

 that the burning end of his cigar the actual cautery had been 

 insidiously applied to the tenderest part of the poor brute's 

 quarters. Exquisite torture was, of course, inflicted thereby, and 

 hence his frantic action the moment he was on his legs. This, 



