The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



phant's trunk. He will waggle his ears about 

 and close his eyes ; open his mouth, and stretch 

 out his tongue ; stand on one leg, and then on 

 another ; stamp with them ; go down on his 

 knees in a paroxysm of ecstasy, get up again, 

 and even he down. Stop, even for a moment, 

 and he will look round to enquire why all this 

 joy has come to an end ; will jog you with his 

 nose, and present his back for renewed attention. 



Then with one hand, still titillating his 

 back, with the other scratch his mane, the 

 whole of his neck, his chest, his flanks, his 

 girth, and especially his forelegs as far as you 

 can reach, lifting them at the knee if he wiU 

 allow you. He will want you to do it all 

 again, and this time, facing his shoulder, get 

 your hands on either side of his neck, scratch 

 it all over ; then get to his shoulders and up to 

 the wither. Then press your weight against 

 his chest and shoulders, as your hands pass 

 over the wither on to his back. He won't 

 object, and will most probably return the 

 pressure to help you to get your fingers further 

 along his back. 



Walk slowly away and he will come after 

 you. Let him come up to you, and scratch 

 him a httle again, and go on. He will follow 

 you, so stop and give him some more. Bring 

 him right up to the gate, give him a last scratch 

 on the back and vanish. There will be a wild 

 horse with his head over the gate, looking to 



35 



