54 WHIP AND SPUR. 



him regularly in a nicely fenced kitchen-garden, 

 where, after he learned that fences are not always 

 intended for leaping-bars, he fell slowly into the 

 routine of the training-school, and easily acquired 

 a perfect self-command and aplomb that enabled 

 him, under all circumstances, to await his rider's 

 instructions. 



I wish that les3 account had been made, in the 

 writings of those whose horse-stories have pre- 

 ceded mine, of the specified feats of their ani- 

 mals. The role of a horse's performances is 

 necessarily limited, and it is probably impossible 

 for a well-constituted mind to recite the simple 

 story of his deeds without seeming to draw 

 largely on the imagination. Consequently, an 

 unexaggerated account of what Ruby actually 

 did (and I cannot bring my mind to an embel- 

 lishment of the truth) would hardly interest a 

 public whose fancy has been thus pampered and 

 spoiled. But for this, these pages could be filled 

 with instances of his strength and agility that 

 would almost tax belief. Suffice it to say that 

 while, like most good high leapers, he would cover 



