THE HORSE. 51 



borne him safely over its nigged mountains, had shared 

 with him the dangers of the battle, and had often proved 

 the means of safety when the chance of war dictated the 

 prudence or necessity of retreat. While engaged in one of 

 these rapid marches, and having occasion to stop for 

 refreshment, the animal's progress being thus suddenly 

 checked, he became exposed to the influence of a cool 

 atmosphere; the consequence of which was, that the 

 horse caught so severe a chil), as seemed to baffle every 

 effort of his disconsolate rider (as well as those of the 

 farrier) to restore him to his pristine vigour. About this 

 time the men and horses were ordered to attend a muster, 

 when the miserable state of our poor quadruped being 

 observed by the inspecting officer, he preremptorily 

 commanded it to be shot. 



The distress of mind which the dragoon suffered, on 

 hearing this sentence, was (as might be expected from his 

 previous character) extreme. He therefore requested a 

 farrier of the regiment to perform the distressing office 

 of executioner, as the idea of destroying the companion of 

 his dangers, as well as the sharer of what few comforts 

 had fallen to his lot during the campaign, was to him an 

 insupportable idea. "With a heavy heart, therefore, he 

 resigned his faithful creature to the hands of the messenger 

 of death. The painful moment of separation between the 

 suffering horse and his still more suffering master was now 

 arrived ; but at this affecting crisis the animal turned 

 completely round, and, looking pointedly and piteously on 

 the chief object of all his affections, seemed to say: 

 " Must we then part, my kind and generous master ? can 

 nothing be done for your poor slave, that I may still enjoy 

 the pleasure of bearing you in safety, and continue to 

 evince my gratitude for the many favours, attentions, and 

 caresses, bestowed upon your now miserable animal ?'' 



The man was completely subdued he resolved to risk 

 all for the salvation of his horse he therefore inquired 

 eagerly of the farrier whether there was yet a possibility 

 of saving the poor creature before them? His comrade 

 replied in the affirmative, but dreaded the idea of disobey- 

 ing his officer's commands ; however, at the earnest 

 entreaty of Ford, he was at length prevailed on to make 

 every effort, in concert with the latter, to restore the 

 diseased object to a state of health and soundness. To 

 work then they went ; and. by the aid of proper external 

 and internal remedies unremittingly applied, our dragoon 



