The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



One backs and gets in a double whack, but is 

 forced forward again by a lurid rejoinder; 

 then both lots of hind legs go up together, and 

 the air is made dark with turfs and hoofs. 

 This must be stopped, or the little ponies will 

 hurt themselves, so a disillusioned Disciple is 

 forced forward and he gives each a good hard 

 bite on the rump, and they are parted, puffing 

 and blowing for want of breath and heaving 

 with their emotion. The other three start 

 away as though retribution was about to over- 

 take them also, but pull up on seeing that 

 nothing happens. Disciple looks and snorts 

 his displeasure, first at one antagonist and 

 then at the other ; shakes his head, and in- 

 dicates that he had no further interest in the 

 proceedings. 



You turn his head homewards, and he leads 

 ofi tranquilly without evincing the least desire 

 to linger on the battlefield. More time has 

 been taken up than you intended, so you make 

 your way to the nearest ride to go home by 

 the shortest road, and put Disciple into an easy 

 ding-dong trot. You must have gone at 

 least half a mile, when Disciple throws his ears 

 back and starts into a canter. Lo and behold 

 it's the little ponies galloping after you ! 

 Disciple's two sweethearts have made up their 

 tiff and are racing side by side ; the third httle 

 mare is close at their heels, and the gelding 

 and donkey, coming on quite unwillingly, are a 



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