I90 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



' It was necessary to indulge in certain intimate 

 familiarities — sometimes to change the position of 

 the animal or to finger its lower extremities. When 

 doing this the student possessed no jockeyship to 

 protect himself, nor was he conscious that any pro- 

 tection was necessary. He used to shut himself up 

 with the companion of his studies. 



' More than a fortnight's leisure had been plea- 

 santly occupied, when, as Mr. Mayhew was one 

 afternoon stealing to the being which lightened the 

 tedium of his studies, and was in the act of opening 

 the door, a number of fellow-students detected him so 

 engaged. " Mayhew ! Mayhew ! " the group shouted 

 as with one voice, " where are you going ? Don't open 

 that door ! Van Amburg is there — he's a kicker and 

 a biter ! You'll be killed ! Don't open the door ! " 



' Van Amburg was the name of a thoroughbred 

 racer, which had been sent to the college " for opera- 

 tion," because of its supposed ferocity. Yet he, a 

 novice, had passed many an hour in its society and 

 could not have desired a more gentle companion. 

 " We have often," says Mr. Mayhew, " laid long 

 together side by side ; or, as I reclined upon the straw 

 reading, the head would rest upon my shoulder, while 

 a full stream of fragrant warmth would salute my 

 cheek. Still, such a creature, so open to advances, so 

 grateful for little kindnesses, was a reputed savage ! " ' 



It is possible that a horse may be reduced to a 

 state of quiet obedience through fear of the conse- 



