The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



back, the four little ponies form a semicircle 

 in front of him, and the neddy plays clown 

 at the rear. For a moment they stand and 

 gaze at this big horse who had called them — 

 what for, goodness only knows — then shake 

 their manes and tails, and all stretch out their 

 heads towards him, sniffing and blowing. 

 Disciple breathes a little hard, but keeps 

 perfectly quiet; so quiet that they are en- 

 couraged to come a little closer, and a little 

 closer still. Now all their little heads are 

 close together, and their noses almost touch 

 as they sniff and puff. Each egging on the 

 other, they press forward, just an inch at a 

 time, to get a sniff and a touch of the great 

 horse's nose, which he stretches down to meet 

 them. Then oh ! such a snuffing and blowing ! 

 It begins with restraint and moderation on 

 both sides ; just little smells at a few inches 

 distance ; gets animated with big and long 

 drawn out smells, Disciple's audible above 

 the rest ; pushful smells, with short grunts, 

 almost barks, from Disciple ; the excitement 

 rises to snorts and squeaks, with a vehement 

 rubbing of noses, when — Explosion ! A 

 devastating roar from Disciple, with an instant 

 strike out of his foreleg, at which the four 

 little ponies, perfectly paralyzed, tumble over 

 backwards, completely upsetting neddy on 

 to the ground, who had been stretching to get 

 in a long distance smell over their backs. 



135 



