53 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



between his quadruped and himself caused 

 him to tarry on the other side in com- 

 pany with our host, w^ho was evidently 

 ashing himself a few questions before he ven- 

 tured to put his horse at the yawning 

 dyke. 



In less time than I have taken to record 



the fact, Captain P waxed exceed--" 



ingly wroth, in evidence of which he was 

 belabouring withunaffected zeal the flanks 

 of his refractory animal with one of 

 Swain e's supple hunting-whips. The 

 double-thonging was administered with 

 such energy, that there was little doubt 

 of the affair coming to a speedy con- 

 clusion. 



After a bountiful thrashing, the horse 

 was wheeled round, and galloped some 

 two hundred yards from the ditch, then 

 faced about and rammed at it, with the 

 rowels vigorously applied to his flanks ; 

 and, I presume, finding the old dragooner 



