212 ADVENTURES IN THE WILDERNESS. 



resemblance to the voice of liim whose blood 

 moistened her shoulders and was even yet dripping 

 from saddle and housings. Be that as it may, no 

 sooner had my voice sounded than she flung her 

 head with a proud upward movement into the air, 

 swerved sharply to the left, neighed as she might 

 to a master at morning from her stall, and came 

 trotting directly up to where I lay, and pausing, 

 looked down upon me as it were in compassion. 

 I spoke again, and stretched out my hand caress- 

 ingly. She pricked her ears, took a step for-ward 

 and lowered her nose until it came in contact with 

 my palm. Never did I fondle anything more ten- 

 derly, never did I see an animal which seemed 

 to so court and appreciate human tenderness as 

 that beautiful mare. I say ' beautiful.' No other 

 word might describe her. Never will her image 

 fade from my memory while memory lasts. 



" In weight she might have turned, when well 

 conditioned, nine hundred and fifty pounds. In 

 color she was a dark chestnut, with a velvety 

 depth and soft look about the hair indescribably 

 rich and elegant. Many a time have I heard 

 ladies dispute the shade and hue of her plush-hke 

 coat as they ran their white, jewelled fingers 

 through her silken hair. Her body was round in 

 the barrel, and perfectly symmetrical. She was 

 wide in the haunches, without projection of the 

 hip-bones, upon which the shorter ribs seemed to 



