70 LADIES ON HORSEBACK. 



feet high, he put down his head, rushed at it^ 

 cleared it without ever laying a shoe upon the 

 topmost stones, and landed with a frightful sHp 

 and clatter, but still safely on his feet — 

 where ? in the midst of a farm-yard. 



Were it not that this adventure actually 

 occurred to myself, I should be strongly 

 tempted to question its authenticity. That 

 there are horses — especially Irish ones — quite 

 capable of compassing such a jump, there 

 cannot be the slightest doubt ; but I hava 

 never before or since seen one who could da 

 it without being steadied as he approached 

 the obstacle. In the ordinary course of events 

 a runaway steed would strike it with his head 

 and turn over, — which was what I expected 

 and desired — but no such thing occurred, and 

 to the latest hour of my life it must remain 

 a mystery to me that upon the momentous 

 occasion in question neither horse nor rider 

 was injured, nor did any accident ensue. 

 Nothing more disastrous than a considerable 

 disturbance in the farm-yard actually occurred; 

 but it was indeed a mighty one. 



Such a commotion amongst fowls was surely 



