250 CANADIAN TUKF EECOLLECTIONS 



despite the fact that we were plowing through two feet of 

 untrodden snow, we went by the whole bunch as if they 

 were standing still. Once clear, the gelding swung into 

 the beaten road and, still pulling like an engine, kept in- 

 creasing his speed. I tried by slacking on the reins to stop 

 him, but the devil was in him and no man's arms were 

 ever strong enough to curb his flight. Knowing well the 

 long steep hill that led down to the brick hotel at Lamb- 

 ton Mills, I knew it was impossible to get down safely at 

 the rate we were travelling. I don't believe I ever exer- 

 cised so much muscle in all my life as I did during the 

 last half-mile of that drive before reaching the hill, at 

 the top of which was another hotel that stood back some 

 thirty yards from the road. Just when I had decided to 

 put my remaining strength into trying to head him for 

 the fence, I noticed a huge drift of snow to the right and 

 close to the hotel driving shed. There was no time for 

 hesitation, so, putting my whole force into a sudden 

 wrench on the right rein, I managed to head him for the 

 drift and that ended the journey. The horse went in and 

 was snow-bound level with his back, while the sudden halt 

 sent me flying through space, and it took all the strength 

 of Frank Harrison (brother of Chief Justice Harrison 

 who lost his life while bathing in the Niagara Eiver) to 

 pull me out. 



Carney confessed that his own arms had given out 

 when he reached the * * Peacock, ' ' and he thought he would 

 give me a little exercise while he rested up. Henderson 

 had a standing offer of $1,200 from a Rochester man for 

 the horse if he could break him of the pulling habit, but, 

 as he afterwards told me, he cost him two sleighs, three 

 buggies and a $40 plate-glass window while trying to 

 educate him. He gave it up at last and sold him for one 

 hundred dollars to a teamster, who gave him all the pull- 

 ing he wanted, hooked up with a mate in front of a 

 wagon hauling bricks. Thus employed I saw him five 

 years later in Bowmanville, and the sight of him brought 

 back vividly to my mind that mad rush into the Lambton 

 snowdrift. 



