FIRE HORSES. 237 



signal, and range himself alongside the pole, is not so 

 difficult as might be imagined. We will suppose that 

 a span of new horses are assigned to a certain engine, 

 the old pair, as is the custom, being taken away at the 

 same time. The surroundings are strange and more 

 or less terrible to them, but they are handled very 

 gently and carefully, and gradually lose their fears. 

 The schooling begins at once, the driver being as- 

 sisted by the other men. The ordinary signal is given, 

 as if for a fire ; the stall doors open ; the horses are 

 led out, put in position, harnessed, and in a few min- 

 utes led back ; and then the process is repeated per- 

 haps half a dozen times. Great pains are taken that 

 the animals shall not strike against anything, or by 

 any means become frightened. The unusual spectacle 

 of a harness suspended in the air is apt to disturb them 

 at first, but they are led slowly up to it, induced to 

 smell of it, to inspect it on all sides, and thus to learn 

 that it is perfectly harmless. In the same way they 

 are made familiar with all the other objects about 

 them, being continually patted and encouraged. 



The chief traits of the horse are the great strength 

 of his memory, especially of his faculty of association, 

 and his timidity. The fireman's task, therefore, is 

 first to* convince his pupil, by gentle treatment, that 

 no harm threatens him, and then to establish a con- 

 nection in his mind between the proper signal, the 

 opening of the stall door, and a progress thence to his 

 station by the engine pole. After being led to their 

 positions what it is thought may prove a sufficient 

 number of times, the horses are allowed to come out at 

 the signal of their own accord, a man standing behind 

 to touch them up a little if they do not start promptly 



