278 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



thoroughly beaten me on the preceding aft 

 I communicated my intentions to no one, as I did 

 not desire to have any witnesses of a failure. Lately 

 the horses had had little work, and the mare I now 

 bestrode less than any of the others, as she, being 

 still only partly broken, was therefore reserved for 

 my special use. The air was cool and balmy, such an 

 exhilarating atmosphere as I believe is only to be 

 enjoyed on this plateau ; its influence had its effect 

 upon my quadruped as well as upon myself, for, after 

 we were out of sight of the teams, I gave her her 

 head, which she had long been struggling to get, 

 and allowed her to select the pace, which for a 

 mile or more was about as fast as she could go. 



I am not young now, and it requires more than 

 an ordinary pleasure to bring to me the sensations 

 of delight which I once knew, but nothing seems 

 to do it so thoroughly as a gallop upon a willing, 

 fresh horse over an open country, where the footing 

 is good, and rocks and stones do not crop out to 

 cause you to tighten rein or alter your course. This 

 little mare was a most promising pupil, strength, 

 substance, and symmetry all being combined in her, 

 while her spirit and energy never appeared to permit 





