A WILD HORSE. 271 



to the spur, and as I observed that he moved with great ease both to 

 himself and his rider, I thought of leaping over a log several feet in dia- 

 meter, to judge how far he might prove serviceable in deer-driving or 

 bear-hunting. So I gave him the reins, and pressed my legs to his belly 

 without using the spur, on which, as if aware that I wished to try his 

 mettle, he bounded off and cleared the log as lightly as an elk. I turned 

 him, and made him leap the same log several times, which he did with equal 

 ease, so that I was satisfied of his ability to clear any impediment in the 

 woods. I next determined to try his strength, for which purpose I took him 

 to a swamp, which I knew was muddy and tough. He entered it with his 

 nose close to the water, as if to judge of its depth, at which I was well 

 pleased, as he thus evinced due caution. I then rode through the swamp 

 in different directions, and found him prompt, decided, and unflinching. 

 Can he swim well ? thought I ; — for there are horses, which, although 

 excellent, cannot swim at all, but will now and then lie on their side, as 

 if contented to float with the current, when the rider must either swim 

 and drag them to the shore, or abandon them. To the Ohio then I went, 

 and rode into the water. He made off^ obliquely against the current, his 

 head well raised above the surface, his nostrils expanded, his breathing 

 free, and without any of the grunting noise emitted by many horses on 

 such occasions. I turned him down the stream, then directly against it, 

 and finding him quite to my mind, I returned to the shore, on reaching 

 which he stopped of his own accord, spread his legs, and almost shook 

 me off" my seat. After this I put him to a gallop, and returning home 

 through the woods, shot from the saddle a turkey-cock, which he after- 

 wards approached as if he had been trained to the sport, and enabled me 

 to take it up without dismounting. 



As soon as I reached the house of Dr Rankin, where I then resided, 

 I sent word to the owner of the horse that I should be glad to see him. 

 When he came, I asked him what price he would take ; he said, fifty dol- 

 lars in silver was the lowest. So I paid the money, took a bill of sale, 

 and became master of the horse. The Doctor, who was an excellent judge, 

 said smiling to me, " Mr Audubon, when you are tired of him, I will re- 

 fund you the fifty dollars, for depend upon it he is a capital horse." The 

 mane was trimmed, but the tail left untouched ; the Doctor had him shod 

 " all round," and for several weeks he was ridden by my wife, who was 

 highly pleased with him. 



Business requiring that I should go to Philadelphia, Barro (he was 



