I70 HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. 



to clinging on with both hands, as the Hght post-car 

 swung from side to side with alarming velocity. 



"'You need not be the laste taste unaisy, she's 

 only a bit fresh in herself,' said Larry soothingly ; 

 ' and, after a while, when she settles down, you'll be 

 delighted with the way she takes hold of the road.' 



" A very stiff hill moderated the pace, and 

 Finnigan's mare subsided perforce into a slashing 

 trot, and ' took hold of the road ' as if she were in 

 a passion with it, and would like to hammer it to 

 pieces with her hoofs. 



" Now and then they passed a big empty place with 

 shuttered windows, now a prosperous-looking farm 

 with ricks and slated outbuildings, and now a roadside 

 mud-cabin ; Finnigan's mare dashing madly through 

 poultry, pigs, goats, and such sleeping creatures as 

 might be imprudently taking forty winks in the middle 

 of the little-used highway — which highway, with its 

 overhanging ash-trees, tangled hedges, and wide 

 grass borders, was the prettiest and greenest that 

 Larry's passenger had ever beheld. This much she 

 imparted to him ; and he, being ripe for conversation, 

 immediately launched forth with the following extra- 

 ordinary announcement : 



" ' Och, but if ye had seen these roads before 

 they were made, 'tis then ye might be talkin' ! There 

 was no ways of getting about in ould times, no play 

 for a free-going one like this ! ' nodding exultingly 

 at the chestnut, who was flying down hill at a pace 

 that made the post-car literally bound off the ground. 

 ' She's going illegant now ; these chestnuts does 

 mostly be a bit "hot," but where would ye see a 

 better traveller on all the roads of the worruld ? ' 



" ' She is not quite trained, is she ? ' 



