A RIDE WITH A MAD HORSE IN A CAR. 219 



lessly champing her bit, her heated blood bringing 

 out the magnificent lace-work of veins over her en- 

 tire body, now and then pausing, and, with a snort, 

 gathering herself back upon her haunches, as for a 

 mighty leap, while she shook the froth from her 

 "bits, she moved with a high, prancing step down 

 the magnificent street, the admired of all beholders, 

 cheer after cheer was given, huzza after huzza rang 

 out over her head from roofs and balcony, bouquet 

 after bouquet was launched by fair and enthusias- 

 tic admirers before her ; and yet, amid the crash 

 and swell of music, the cheering and tumult, so 

 gentle and manageable was she, that, though I 

 could feel her frame creep and tremble under me 

 as she moved through that whirlwind of excite- 

 ment, no check or curb was needed, and the bridle- 

 lines — the same she wore when she came to me 

 at Malvern Hill — lay unlifted on the pommel 

 of the saddle. Never before had I seen her so 

 grandly herself. Never before had the fire and 

 energy, the grace and gentleness, of her blood so 

 revealed themselves. This was the day and the 

 event she needed. And all the royalty of her an- 

 cestral breed, — a race of equine kings, — flowing 

 as without taint or cross from him that was the 

 pride and wealth of the whole tribe of desert 

 rangers, expressed itself in her. I need not say 

 that I shared her mood. I sympathized in her 

 every step. I entered into all her royal humors. 



