The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



good bit in the rear. As the two scamper up, 

 manes and tails waving, they come, one on 

 each side, almost touching your toes. Dis- 

 ciple's for home,and beyond keeping an eye on 

 each takes no notice and continues his stride. 

 Little ponies' hearts are tender, and they like 

 the big horse. As they scamper alongside 

 you can see they are out for some fun. They 

 chuck down their heads and kick up their 

 heels, make prodigious leaps on the least 

 excuse, or with no excuse at all — feint at 

 biting Disciple — and sheer round in pretence 

 of a kick. 



And thus they keep up with you right to the 

 edge of the Forest, and on to the grass land 

 beyond. It goes against the grain to have to 

 scare them off, but if you did not they would 

 follow you home. So you pull up, and three 

 sharp cracks of the hunting whip send them 

 scampering back to the gelding and donkey, 

 who have just emerged from the ride. An- 

 other day, perhaps, you will meet them again, 

 as old friends. It is worth a little trouble to 

 secure a second encounter, for they wiU present 

 amusingly fresh problems, and give you quite 

 a lot to think over. 



141 



