496 THE HORSE. 



of danger and the footsteps of man. When they see the do- 

 mesticated horses, they gallop up to them, caress them with 

 affectionate neighings, and use every mean to induce them 

 to escape with them to the wilderness. The latter are not 

 slow to accept the invitation, and, when once restored to 

 liberty, never willingly submit to bondage again. When the 

 wild troops draw near, all the vigilance of the travellers is 

 required to prevent the desertion of their horses, who struggle 

 to disencumber themselves of their trappings and get free. 

 The Wild Horses advance in columns, never in a line, some- 

 times retreating and returning several times, before they can 

 be driven away, and sometimes charging the equipage, and 

 throwing every thing into confusion, in order to effect the 

 rescue. This generous sympathy for their subjugated fellows 

 does not exist in the wild races of Tartary, and, in the case 

 of the Spanish horses, may be safely pronounced to be the 

 result of instinctive feelings connected with their former state 

 of domestication. An amusing traveller, speaking of some 

 captured horses driven cruelly along at speed, goaded and 

 wearied, through the more settled parts of the country, thus 

 describes the effect upon their fellows. " As they are thus 

 galloping along, urged by the spur, it is interesting to see 

 the group of wild horses one passes. The mares, which are 

 never ridden in South America, seem not to understand what 

 makes the poor horse hang his head so low and look so weary. 

 The little innocent colts come running to meet him, and then 

 start away frightened ; while the old horses, whose white 

 marks on the flanks and backs betray their acquaintance 

 with the spur and saddle, walk slowly away for some dis- 

 tance, then breaking into a trot as they seek for safety, snort 

 and look behind them, first with one eye and then with the 

 other, turning their nose from right to left, and carrying 

 their long tail high in the air." * 



These Wild Horses are easily restored to domestication. 



* Head's Journey across the Pampas, 



