258 THE HUNTING FIELD 



standing with his nasty frightful iron calkings at your 

 nose, considering which eye he shall knock out ; 

 whereas the playful ejector merely seems to have 

 been having a trial of skill how far he could send 

 you, and stands looking at the result, just like a 

 baker playing at bowls. The vicious horse to be 

 sure gives a sort of notice to such few as are capable 

 of taking a hint. There is a certain liberal display 

 of the white of the eye, and a muscular cat-like con- 

 traction of the back and loins, all symptomatic of 

 his intentions, but any misgivings arising out of such 

 symptoms are generally allayed by those in the secret 

 declaring that it's " all play " — " the quietest horse in 

 the world when he's mounted" — "child might ride 

 him" — with that most taking of all appeals to a 

 Briton, " not to be frightened," an appeal that drives 

 more men to destruction than even an engineman on 

 a railway. Lambkin, on the contrary, gave no in- 

 dication of anything of the sort. He would let a 

 stranger walk up to him, handle him, gather up the 

 reins, and even put his foot into the stirrup without 

 wincing ; but as soon as he felt the souce in the 

 saddle, as surely down went the head, up went heels, 

 and away went the intrepid adventurer. And yet, as 

 we said before, Lambkin was not obstinately persever- 

 ing, if he found he could not unship a chap, he would 

 shut up shop, at all events, confine his endeavours to 

 an occasional hoist ; but a new customer invariably 

 drew forth all his best energies, which he continued 

 to use till one or other gained a decided victory. 

 We need scarcely say, that Shabbyhounde had gained 

 that desirable ascendency, and though he always 

 found it convenient to ride Lambkin to cover, and 

 was especially shy of mounting in the inn yard before 

 strangers, yet that was from a desire of keeping the 

 peculiarity snug, and not from any expectation of 

 Lambkin proving "too many for him." 



It has been well said that there is no secret so close 



