THE HORSE 345 



better.' Thus Buff on expresses himself in regard 

 to the horse. " 



"I like Job's way of saying it a good deal better, " 

 Jules declared. 



"I too," his uncle assented. "To my mind, no 

 one has said it better than the old author who lived 

 in the land of palms. In a few sublimely ener- 

 getic words he paints for us the character of the 

 horse." 



"I 'm too young," said Emile, "to have an opin- 

 ion on such a lofty subject ; at the same time I will 

 confess, Uncle, that I get lost very easily in Buff on 's 

 long sentences. ' ' 



"In the form in which I have quoted them to you, 

 do not call them long, for on your account I took the 

 liberty to cut them up into separate clauses. In the 

 author's exact words the whole makes but one sen- 

 tence. From beginning to end, the sonorous period 

 does not give one a chance to take breath. ' ' 



"All the same, in spite of the cutting, I still lose 

 my way." 



"Let us return then to your uncle's simple man- 

 ner of talking. The appearance of the horse de- 

 notes agility combined with strength. The body is 

 powerful, the chest broad, the rump well rounded, 

 the head somewhat heavy but sustained by strong 

 neck and shoulders; the thighs and shoulders are 

 muscular, legs slender, hocks vigorous and supple. 

 A graceful mane falling on one side runs along the 

 neck ; the tail bears a thick growth of long hair which 

 the animal uses to drive troublesome flies from its 



