312 STALLIONS. 



the feet of the Englishman, and placed his foot on his head, in to- 

 ken of submission, and showing that he would be his slave for life. 

 He removed the cumbrous harness with which Scham was capari- 

 soned, in a sort of frenzy, believing that the malign influence had 

 departed from his companion. The hard- stuffed collar covered 

 with blue sheepskin, the rusty hames, the ponderous wooden sad- 

 dle, and the thick bridle, were all dashed to the ground in the 

 greatest indignation ; then, drawing from one of the pockets of his 

 cloak a horse-hair glove, he began to rub down Scham, after the 

 manner of the Moors of Tunis (who never use a currycomb), the 

 friction of which soon renders glossy the handsome and fine skin 

 of the horses of the pure race. Scham, thus unharnessed, could 

 be better examined by the Quaker. He was a brown bay, about 

 fifteen hands high, with a white spot on the off hind leg. He was 

 terribly thin ; his sharp bones seemed to pierce through his skin, 

 naturally so fine and delicate that he was covered with wounds 

 by the friction of the heavy collar and shafts of the cart. The 

 dust and dirt which covered the poor animal rendered his coat, 

 formerly so bright and smooth, quite dull and rough, and his mane 

 was matted with filth. Notwithstanding his distressing and mis- 

 erable appearance, a judge of horse-flesh would still have admired 

 his bony form ; and on seeing his deep chest, sure indication of 

 capacity and strength of lungs, it was evident that Scham could 

 perform, without the slightest difficulty, a lengthened course. 

 Judging also from the construction and strength of his well-pro- 

 portioned limbs, his speed must be prodigious; and his large hams, 

 flat and so singularly tapering off, seemed steel springs to his iron 

 frame. These, added to his uncommon beauty, and his graceful 

 tail, flowing like a plume of silk, proved him to be an illustrious 

 descendant from the purest caste. 



" The Quaker shortly after returned home, accompanied by 

 his purchase, his mute attendant, and the faithful cat. 



"Arrived in England, Scham is located at Bury Hall, the res- 

 idence of the Quaker, situated about fifteen miles from London, 

 on the banks of the Thames ; and in a short time, through the 

 care of Agba, and plenty of nutritious food, he recovered his pris- 

 tine form, so that no one could have believed him to be the 

 miserable object so cruelly treated at the foot of the Pont Neuf. 

 Agba was feared and despised by the other domestics, for they had 

 not the Quaker's tolerance ; but they respected him for his attach- 

 ment to the horse and devotion to his master. 



"A cloud, however, soon lowered on the destiny of Scham: 

 his vicious disposition began to show itself, and he would suffer no 

 one to ride him but Agba. He had defeated all the attempts of 

 one Tom Stag, a rough-rider, to reduce him to obedience, and had 

 put him on one occasion in peril of his life, by almost crushing his 



