BAD HORSE. 187 



a very peculiar propensity she possessed; 

 and knowing that I was not in the 

 habit of riding very slow, he showed 

 no compunction nor fear of any conse- 

 quence in lending her to me. 



Accordingly I mounted, one hot sum- 

 mer's day ; and, as I generally took about an 

 hour never more to accomplish the ten 

 miles often did it in less I did not leave 

 till about two o'clock. I had not cleared 

 the gates, and proceeded far on the road, 

 before I found it was more a toil than a 

 pleasure to ride such an animal; and the 

 perspiration commenced running down my 

 face in great profusion, till, arriving at 

 the top of the hill approaching the en- 

 trance to the Forest, I thought I would 

 give her her head, as my arms ached 

 with holding her. After a few strides 

 she got the bit in her mouth, and away 

 she went at full speed. It was in vain 

 for me to pull, and as I saw no danger, 

 the road being perfectly straight, except 



