26 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



heels, saddled, and if all of a sudden, to his vast astonish- 

 ment, he finds sitting astride his back, with a cigar in his 

 mouth, the very human being he has always been avoid- 

 ing, his first and almost only feeling is that of fear ; and 

 accordingly, if he be retained by the bridle, instantane- 

 ously, by a series of jumps on all four legs, he makes 

 impromptu his first hurried, untaught, unpractised effort 

 to dislocate a rider. But if, instead of being as it were 

 invited to perform these unsophisticated antics, he be 

 allowed, or rather, by whip and severe spurs, be propelled 

 to do what he most ardently desires, namely, run away, 

 his power of resistance is over, and his subjection ine- 

 vitable. For at the top of his speed, just as when swim- 

 ming, a horse can neither rear, kick, nor plunge, and 

 therefore at his best pace he proceeds on his sure road 

 to ruin, until not only all his wind is pumped out of 

 him, but after that, until twisted hide-thong and sharp 

 iron have converted his terror of man into an ardent 

 desire to be obedient to his will. In fact, like a small 

 nation that has unsuccessfully been contending against a 

 great one, he wishes to put an end to the horrors of war, 

 and to sue for the blessings of peace. 



2. If a domestic horse that has been handled, fondled, 

 but never ridden, be suddenly saddled and mounted, the 

 rider has greater difficulties to encounter than those just 

 described: for the animal is not only gifted by nature 



