THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 21 



intruders, and furiously pawing the ground. Garonwy, 

 with the assistance of his servants and the grey- 

 hounds, contrived to coop them up in a corner of 

 the hills, where perpendicular rocks prevented their 

 escape. 



" Already had he captured three of the most 

 beautiful little fellows in the world, which he expected 

 to sell for 4- or 5 each at the next Bala fair, to 

 him a considerable sum, and amounting to a fourth 

 of the annual rent which he paid for his sheep walk. 

 There remained, however, one most untamable crea- 

 ture, whose crested mane, and flowing tail, and wild 

 eye, and distended nostril showed that he was a per- 

 fect Bucephalus of the hills; nor, indeed, was it safe 

 to attack him in the ordinary way. Many of the 

 three year olds had been known to break the legs of 

 their pursuers, and some had been dismounted and 

 trampled to death. 



" Garonwy was determined to give the noble 

 fellow a chase over the hills, and so overcome him by 

 fatigue before the lasso was flung. The dogs were 

 unslipped, and off they went swift as the winds, 

 Garonwy following, and the two assistants posted in 

 a neighbouring eminence. Vain was the effort to 

 tire the merlin. Hugo, naturally impatient, and 

 without waiting to ascertain that the coils were all 



