OF THE FOAL. 207 



drove ofP the little bay again and again. 

 The pony mare, being, of course, shod, and, 

 as I knew, a hard kicker, I was very anxious 

 for the foal, who naturally kept close 

 to her dam for protection in the scrimmage, 

 which was a sort of flying fight all round 

 the field amid a mob of excited horses. 

 E/un as I might I could seldom get near 

 enough to help my good old black, who 

 chased the little bay about till he was 

 nearly blown. Once in his efforts to drive 

 her off he went heels over head, turning 

 over like a shot rabbit. Presently my little 

 groom, who was outside, came to my assist- 

 ance, but it was not for nearly two hours 

 that we succeeded in separating them and 

 catching the pony mare. It might have 

 taken us all night but for the gallant 

 assistance of my good old black. Nothing, 

 happily, was hurt, but it was rather stronger 

 exercise than one desires on a warm summer 

 evening. This old cob had previously 



