HUNTING, AND RIDING TO HOUNDS. 21 



called mo out of a lane, wliercin was stationed 

 all ^^tlic field/' ^^Caj)tain'' was sure to refuse to 

 go; when, on feeling tlie spurs or the double 

 tliong, in order to force him from his ill humour 

 — caressing was out of the question — he would 

 bore down his rather heavy liead, — no pulling at 

 him could prevent it, — and seize the ground with 

 his teeth, when, even with a severe gag rein with 

 sharp twisted snaffle, there was no getting his head 

 up again as long as he was desired to go the way 

 he did not wish. Pat him and let him have 

 his own way, like a human being, and he became 

 as docile as possible ; but when you countered 

 with him in opinion, he became the most sullenly 

 obstinate quadruped, in existence. His restiveness 

 arose from mere matter of opinion, and his resist- 

 ance was passive ; he did not swerve to the right 

 or left, or desire to rush anywhere ; he neither 

 reared, kicked, nor plunged: he stood still, made 

 no attempt to unseat his rider, but merely got his 

 head down, and with his teeth laid hold of the 

 ground and stood still, ready, if forced on, to 

 tumble over his own head. He was a splendid 

 horse through dirt, and a perfect fencer, stout and 

 fast, and when with a good start with hounds he 



