xxvm LETTERS TO MARCO 187 



and when it became too deep, giving a plunge 

 forward, at the same time making a sort 

 of blowing noise, swam over quite easily. 

 When the swimming began, the man, slipping 

 off on one side, struck out with his legs, 

 holding on to the horse by the mane. The 

 horse did not seem to mind it in the least, 

 and when the other bank was reached, the 

 man, who had remounted on reaching shallow 

 water, turned the horse round, and recrossed 

 the river in the same way. 



Last year I saw a cow that was in a 

 meadow opposite our house swim the river. 

 The cow had been separated from its com- 

 panions, and was exceedingly restless, pacing 

 up and down the bank and lowing continu- 

 ally. It saw my neighbour's cows on the other 

 side, and evidently wished much to join 

 them ; at last she took deliberately to the 

 water, walking quietly in and swimming 

 across with the greatest ease. She looked 

 like a small boat in the water, as the top part 

 of her back showed its whole length. I was 



