fbenrp Hstburg Xeveson 517 



the chin off a second, maimed several, and, amongst 

 other crimes, to have half eaten a marechal-de-logis 

 (sergeant-major) who had attempted to ride him. I 

 found him tied fore-and-aft by huge cords, besides having 

 his head fastened with a heavy chain, in a small thatched 

 mud-hut, about eight feet by seven ; and even in this 

 confined space no one could approach him, for he lashed 

 out with his heels, and tried to seize any one going near 

 him with his teeth. He was a beautifully shaped animal, 

 with a blood-like head, wide and deep chest, good 

 shoulders, and great length between the hip-bone and 

 the hocks but in woful condition, for he had not been 

 groomed for a couple of months. I saw at once that he 

 would be just the animal to suit me, if I could only gain 

 the mastery over him, so I went to his owner to inquire 

 the price." 



The price was settled, and it only remained to master 

 the horse. The whole French camp turned out to see 

 the mad Englishman's discomfiture. His procedure 

 puzzled them. He obtained from the Turkish com- 

 mandant a fatigue party of twenty men, who arrived 

 armed with spades and pickaxes. Leveson then proceeds 

 to narrate what ensued : 



11 I first directed the ' Buono Johnnies ' to take off the 

 roof, and then to break down the upper part of the wall 

 all round until it was only four feet and a-half high, 

 which operation was soon done. ! then took two ropes, 

 and throwing them, lasso-fashion, over the horse's head, 

 I fastened them right and left to pickets strongly driven 

 in the ground. When this was done I threw a blanket 

 over his eyes, to prevent his seeing what was going on, 



