48 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



A Piedmontese officer possessed a beautiful mare, 

 and one that would have been in all respects service- 

 able, but for a peculiarity that rendered her exceed- 

 ingly dangerous: that was a decided aversion to 

 paper, which she recognised the moment she saw it, 

 and even in the dark, if two leaves were rubbed to- 

 gether. The effect produced by the sight or sound 

 of it was so prompt and violent, that she several times 

 unhorsed her rider. She had not the slightest fear 

 of objects that would terrify most horses. She re- 

 garded not the music of the band, the whistling of 

 the balls, the roaring of the cannon, the fires of the 

 bivouacs, or the glittering of arms. The confusion 

 and noise of an engagement made no impression on 

 her ; the sight of no other white object offended her. 

 No other sound moved her, but the view or the 

 rustling of paper roused her to madness. 



A mare was perfectly manageable, and betrayed 

 no antipathy to human beings, to animals of other 

 kinds, or to horses, except they were of a light grey 

 colour ; but the moment she saw a light grey horse 

 she rushed towards it and attacked it with the greatest 

 fury. It was the same at all times and everywhere. 

 She was all that could be wished on the parade, on 

 the route, in the ranks, in action, and in the stable ; 

 but if she once caught a glimpse of a grey or white 



