Patroclus Browsing. 59 



educated in all the School airs which are applica- 

 ble to road-riding, and I know their value and ap- 

 preciate it. 



Because, then, the cowboy is nowhere in the 

 hunting-field; or because the hard-riding squire 

 and M. F. H. cannot drop to the further side of 

 his horse while he shoots at his galloping enemy, 

 or pick up a kerchief from the ground at a smart 

 gallop ; or because the Frenchman has to learn 

 his racing trade from an English jockey, it will 

 not do to say that each is not among the best of 

 horsemen, or that either is better than the other. 

 The style of riding is always the outgrowth of 

 certain conditions of necessity or pleasure, and 

 invariably fits those conditions well. With us in 

 the East the English habit is no doubt the most 

 available ; but it can only be made the test of our 

 own needs or fashions, not of general equestrian- 

 ism. 



XVII. 



While all this has been buzzing through your 

 master's brain, you, Patroclus, knowing full well 

 that the loosely hanging rein has meant liberty 

 within reason to yourself, have wandered away to 

 the nearest thicket, and begun to crop the tender 

 leaves and shoots as peacefully as you please. 

 To look at your quiet demeanor at this moment 

 one would scarcely think that you were such a 

 bundle of nerves. You can be as sedate as Ro- 



