106 A BAD HORSE 



more a toil than a pleasure to ride such an animal ; and 

 the jDerspiration commenced running down my face in 

 ![rreat profusion, till, arriving at the top of the hill 

 approaching the entrance 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 what might be anticipated at the 

 termination of her frolic, I stuck fast. Now, it was full 

 three miles through the Forest to my father's house, and I 

 faintly hoped she would become exhausted before reaching 

 the village ; but, as it happened, there were some men 

 repairing a guUey, that conveyed the water under the 

 road, just by the nine milestone. They had made an 

 excavation not quite the width of the road, leaving, 

 indeed, a way on each side. It was fruitless to pull her 

 either to the right or left. On she went at the top 

 of her speed — I shouting to the men when coming to the 

 pit — and not being able to cover it, she jumped right in. 

 The mare kept her legs, and I kept my seat ; but, in 

 jumping out of the pit, her head came in fearful collision 

 with mine, and the concussion almost took away my 

 senses. The excavators came to my assistance and held 

 the mare till I had somewhat recovered myself; when, 

 finding she was too much blown to make a similar effort, 

 I got her, capering and dancing, and in much fear of 

 another knock on the head, safe to my father's stables, 

 about a mile further ; and when I dismounted I found my- 

 self quite enfeebled, and my head in great pain. Instead, 

 therefore, of sitting down to enjoy the society of my 



