HANDLING AND BREAKING. 225 



I was staying, when he incautiously stooped 

 with his back to the manger, and in orthodox 

 fashion passed a critical hand down her fore- 

 legs. I ought, of course, to have racked 

 or held her head up, hut she Avas so quiet, 

 and I had besides no idea of what he was 

 about to do, so omitted this precaution. 

 " Nice filly," he remarked; " perhaps a leetle 

 light of hone " ; when, at that moment, to 

 my horror, round came the filly's handsome 

 golden head, with ears laid back, and an 

 expression in her luminous eye I had never 

 seen there before, and — great Scot ! (the most 

 innocent ejaculation I am acquainted with) 

 there ensued an agonized yell, as her nippers 

 closed with a snap on the most salient portion 

 of her critic's person, and the churchwarden 

 performed a standing broad jump towards 

 the stable door, which I am sure he could 

 never have accomplished Avith the best of 

 runs under less stimulating circumstances. 

 Whatever made the mare do such a diabolical 



15 



