CHAPTER XL 



A GALLOP. 

 A Special Favourite Meer-kats Sunset. 



" STAND! stand! darling, stand!" I exclaimed, as I 

 gathered the reins together on Nemo's withers pre- 

 viously to putting my foot in the stirrup, for the pet 

 was so anxious to be off that his anxiety to start 

 could scarcely be restrained. An observer would, 

 on such an occasion, have thought my good horse 

 was full of vice ; for he would glance backwards with 

 his large, full eyes, lay his small, velvety ears down 

 upon his neck, and expand his nostrils to the fullest 

 extent, while his off fore-leg would paw the ground as 

 if despising the earth he stood upon ; but how wrong 

 would he be to judge so by these petty demonstrations, 

 for, had I just dismounted and turned the reins over 

 the horse's head, there he would remain almost 

 stationary, except when the desire to nibble at an 



