UNDESERVED WORRIES. 49 



the very first the mare resented my being at her head. 

 We knew that both had been doing nothing for some 

 considerable time; but we persevered, believing they 

 would quiet down and become more tractable when 

 they had worked off their friskiness. Instead of 

 improving, they became worse. I put myself between 

 the two of them, and took hold of both bridles, and 

 tried in that way to lead them both. The second 

 mare was ten times worse than the first one. Not 

 only did she fling her head about wildly: she struck 

 out with her fore foot and attempted again 

 and again to get my hand into her mouth. 

 Then she stopped, and refused to pull, and 

 it was not long before the first mare followed 

 suit. We tried all ways, gentle and other; but pull 

 they would not. At last, after the two of them, 

 jerking at the same moment, had nearly wrenched 

 my arms out of their sockets, we were obliged to 

 desist. Lawrie, the gardener, who was a witness of 

 our proceedings, said afterwards that he fully ex- 

 pected to see me struck down and injured, if not 

 worse. For weeks after my arms suffered from the 

 strain. I ought to add that I had never worked with 

 horses before in my life. 



Upon my going to consult with a native Canadian, 

 settled on the next ranch, he told me that Canadian 

 horses are not accustomed to be led, and will hardly 

 ever work when they are led ; they are always, for all 

 purposes, driven by long reins. Acting upon this 

 information in future, we never experienced anything 

 like the same difficulty with them. Indeed, in pro- 

 cess of time, they became so docile, and worked so 

 well, that Calaby, while driving them into Nelson, 



