98 Second-sight of Horses. 



head or looks on one side in order to escape the sight 

 of the apparition, it instantly crosses to that side. 

 Indeed, no matter in which direction he glances, 

 the flickering figure floats before him, till, making a 

 run for it, he passes beyond the limits of the haunted 

 ground. 



Near by the hollow, where the stream crosses the 

 lane, is another spirit, but of an indefinite kind, that 

 does not seem to take shape, but causes those who 

 go past at the time when it has power to feel a mor- 

 tal horror. A black dog may be seen in at least two 

 different places : the wayfarer is suddenly surprised 

 to find a gigantic animal of the deepest jet ti-otting 

 by his side, or he sees a dark shadow detach itself 

 from the bushes and take the form of a dog. The 

 black dog has perhaps more vitality, and survives in 

 more localities, than all the apparitions that in the 

 olden times were sworn to by persons of the highest 

 veracity. They may still be heard of in many a 

 nook and corner. I have known people of the 

 present day who were positive that there really was 

 4 something ' weird in the places where the dog was 

 said to appear. 



It is supposed that horses are peculiarly liable to 

 take fright and run away, to shy, or stumble, and 

 break their knees, at a certain spot in the road. 

 They go very well till just on passing the fatal spot 

 a sudden fear seizes them as if they could see some- 

 thing invisible to men ; sometimes they bolt head- 

 long, sometimes stand stock-still and shiver ; or 

 throw the rider by a rapid side movement. In the 

 daytime for this supernatural effect is felt in broad 

 day as well as at night the horse more frequently 



