36 THE LIFE OF A EACEHORSE. 



" Yessir," replied Hai^ry, with well-assumecl confidence, but 

 accompanied by a misgiving, of which I was sensible quite as 

 soon as himself. 



In my fretful impatience I now bored my head between my 

 knees, and was extremely near dragging my attendant in a 

 humiliating position over my ears. 



Our trainer muttered something ; the string was stopped, 

 and mounts were exchanged by the head lad and Harry Dale. 



There was no mistaking the difference between my riders. 

 Good as Harry's seat unquestionably was, with light hands, 

 quicksilver perception, and dauntless courage, he lacked that 

 great quality which Spanky possessed — experience. The 

 moment he was upon my back I knew that he could hold me, 

 and was fully alive to the great improbability of being able to 

 play him either prank or trick with anything like an approach 

 to success. 



We were now, I think, on the Cambridge Hill, when the 

 order was given by Mr. Sellusall for York's Cardinal to lead 

 the morning gallop. Away he shot, like a shaft from the 

 thrummed string of a yew-bow ; and behind him sprung the 

 lot, one after the other, pulled double as they endeavoured to 

 mend the pace. It now came to my turn. With a bound, 

 which required the whole of Spanky's skill to maintain his 

 equilibrium, I jumped off with the full intention of going to 

 the front ; but the steady, determined tng upon my jaws kept 

 me unwillingly in the rear, and I was obliged to keep my place. 

 What new feelings, however, rose within me ! Hoav I longed 

 to race with each and all, and outstrip the fleetest ! Oh, that I 

 could but have overpowered Spanky ! York's Cardinal should 

 have had his work to do to keep the lead in that morning 

 gallop ! So I thought in my innocence ; such an essay my 

 vaulting ambition would have led me to make. 



Discovering, with that intuitive quickness which belongs to 

 us, that I must obey my rider's guidance, I quietly settled into 

 my stride ; and after going about half-a-mile, at a moderate 

 pace, was pulled up ; but the rest proceeded to complete the 

 allotted portions of the work assigned to them. Although. 



