The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



Just scratch him on the shoulder, and of his 

 own accord he will take a step or two closer 

 to it — ^with all precautions of course — because 

 who knows whether or not this infernal thing 

 may not jump. There he stands and has 

 another look, and a snort or two. Look at 

 those pricked ears. Tizz — Tizz — Tizz. He 

 throws his head up and down, and has another 

 look and a snort. One ear comes back just to 

 hear what you have got to say about it. Tell 

 him it's all right, with another scratch on the 

 shoulders. Of his own accord he will go for- 

 ward yet another step or two. Clap him on 

 the neck and encourage him, and just gently 

 touch him behind with the whip and he will 

 go right up to within five or six yards of it. 

 Tizz — Tizz — Tizz. Let him stand there and 

 look and snort at it all he wants. 



(The Nightmare. — A motor standing buzzing 

 by the side of the road. Enter a riding lad on a 

 young and nervous horse. The horse catches sight 

 of the motor, throws his head up and is obviouslj^ 

 scared. The boy swears at him, saws at his mouth 

 and lashes at him with his whip. The horse tries 

 to swing round and bolt. The boy savages him and 

 the horse rears. The boy beats him and presses 

 him forward. He gets him to the far side of the 

 road. The horse terrified and trembling, not 

 knowing what he is doing, forces himself into the 

 hedge, gets pricked, and rears again. The boy 

 lashes him and gets him a yard or two further, and 

 the horse, with his head strained round in agonised 



97 



