122 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



in no way concerned for her beauty, or her life, but 

 gave judicious directions to those who rescued her as 

 calmly and courteously as if she had been pouring 

 out their tea. 



The horse, though in that there is nothing unusual, 

 behaved like an angel, and the fair rider was extri- 

 cated without very serious injury ; but I thought to 

 myself, as I remounted and rode on, that if a legion 

 of Amazons could be rendered amenable to discipline 

 they would conquer the world. 



No man, till he has tried the experiment, can con- 

 ceive how awkward and powerless one feels in a lady's 

 seat They themselves affirm that with the crutch, or 

 second pommel on the near side, they are more secure 

 than ourselves ; but when I see those delicate, fragile 

 forms flying over wood and water, poised on precipi- 

 tous banks, above all, crashing through strong bull- 

 finches, I am struck with admiration at the mysteries 

 of nature, among which not the least wonderful 

 seems the feminine desire to excel. And they do 

 excel when resolved they will, even in those sports 

 and exercises which seem more naturally belonging to 

 the masculine department. It was but the other day, 

 a boatman in the Channel told me he saw a lady swim- 

 ming alone more than half a mile off shore. Now that 



