The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



impressed upon her mind, as the instinct to 

 immediately get on his legs is impressed on 

 the mind of the colt. Of course if danger did 

 actually arise, from a dog, from cattle or 

 horses on the move, or if she were apprehensive 

 of such danger, she would be by her foal in an 

 instant to protect him from all comers ; and 

 she would give her life for him, whatever her 

 own condition. Safe and alone, she will give 

 the foal room for his antics, and wait patiently 

 until she sees that he has surmounted his 

 difficulties and can stand up. Then she will 

 set herself to give liim his first meal. 



The foal is up and comes doddering along. 

 Quite Ukely he has another upset on the journey, 

 but picks himself up and reaches his goal. 

 He is glad to be with her and fumbles at her 

 with his nose, while she bends down and licks 

 him most lovingly. The conviction in the 

 foal's mind, now that he has reached her, that 

 his Mother has to do with food, grows infinitely 

 stronger. He does not yet know what to 

 expect, but he snuggles his nose against her ; 

 then opens his lips and sucks at her hair. It is 

 not very satisfactory, but it's better than 

 nothing. He tries a little further on, with no 

 other result. But his hunger increases, and 

 the scent of his Mother's skin sharpens his 

 appetite. He gets impatient and pecks at her. 

 Then searches about her forelegs and getting 

 no satisfaction, positively stamps with vex- 



202 



