44 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



expression of countenance. When he saw anything 

 he had not been accustomed to, or heard any sudden 

 or unusual noise, whether it was near or at a distance, 

 or sometimes when his corn was thrown into the 

 manger without the precaution of speaking to him or 

 patting him, he was frightened to an almost incredible 

 degree ; he recoiled precipitately, every limb trem- 

 bled, and he struggled violently to escape. After 

 several useless efforts to get away, he would work 

 himself into the very highest degree of rage, so that it 

 was dangerous to approach him. This state of excite- 

 ment was followed by dreadful convulsions, which did 

 not cease until he had broken his halter, or otherwise 

 freed himself from his trammels. He would then be- 

 come calm, and suffer himself to be led back to his 

 stable, nor would anything more be seen but an almost 

 continual uneasiness, and a wandering and stupid ex- 

 pression of countenance. He had belonged to a brutal 

 soldier, who had beaten him shamefully : but before 

 he fell into that man's hands he had been perfectly 

 quiet and tractable. 



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 recognized the moment she saw it, 

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

 ther. The effect produced by the sight or sound of it 



