A TREMENDOUS FALL. 91 



Knowing it to be an accepted fact that a horse 

 n always jump what a hog does, I rushed the mare 

 at it. I could see it was a pretty wide stretch, but 



id not see any more for some minutes, and then 

 saw stars very numerous and confoundedly erratic 

 ones too ! Yes, I had got across ; but I made this 

 mistake, that I did not bring my mare with me. 

 This was certainly neglectful on my part ; but, to 

 tell the truth, I could not help it. 



It was some time before I definitely came to a 

 resolution whether I would remain where I was or 

 ride in search of my companions ; but, to perform the 

 latter, it was necessary to know whether I had an 

 animal that could carry me. It is wonderful with 

 what indifference I set about gaining this infor- 

 mation. One horse more or less did not appear 

 worth thinking about ; so I confess that I did not 

 trouble myself very much over the matter. How- 

 ever, I was awoke from this happy lethargic state of 

 indifference by seeing the red-skimmel using her 

 utmost exertions to clamber out of the bowels of the 

 earth and gain a more satisfactory view of the country 

 than is to be obtained seven or eight feet under 

 ground. Without difficulty I captured my beast ; 

 but, having accomplished that feat, it is wonderful 

 how careless I felt about getting into the saddle. 

 In fact, I may confess it, I had come a tremendous 

 fall, and, although no bones were broken, I was nearly 

 sufficiently shaken up to be made into an omelette. 



