SHYING. 133 



smallest touch to cause a very violent explosion. In fact, 

 without metaphor, on the slightest occurrence he is not 

 only ready, but exceedingly desirous, to jump for joy. 



The casus belli which the animal would perhaps most 

 enjoy would be to meet a temperance run-away awning- 

 covered waggon full of stout, healthy young women in 

 hysterics, all screaming ; or to have a house fall down just 

 as he was passing it. However, as a great conqueror, if 

 he cannot discover a large excuse for invading the terri- 

 tory of his neighbour, is sure to pick out a very little 

 one, so does the high mettled horse who has nothing to 

 start at, proceed under his rider with his eyes searching 

 in all directions for something which he may pretend to 

 be afraid of. Influenced by these explosive propensities 

 he cocks his ears at a large leaf which the air had gently 

 roused from its sleep, as if it were a crouching tiger ; 

 and shortly afterwards a fore leg drops under him as sud- 

 denly as if it had been carried away by a cannon shot, 

 because in the hedge beside him a wren has just hopped 

 from one twig to another nearly an inch. 



Now, of course, the effective cure for all these symptoms 

 of exuberant, pent up spirits is a long, steady hand-gallop 

 up and down hill across rather deep ground. Before, how- 

 ever, this opportunity offers, man can offer to the brute 

 beneath him a more reasonable remedy. 



The instant that a horse at a walk sees at a short dis- 



