THE CAPTAIN .\ND THE BULL. 151 



treat, disturbing in. some degree the equilibrium of the 

 boat, and causing the Captain to repass hastily in front of 

 him. Then fear forsook him, and indignation occupied 

 the place of amazement in his bovine bosom ; he rushed 

 furiously, his head lowered, and his horns directed towards 

 the acute angle in the scarlet trousers, overthrowing on 

 his hands and face the old habitant who endeavoured to 

 restrain him with the reins, and by the violence of his 

 movements breaking one of the traces which attached him 

 to the sled and to the boat. The other trace having held 

 out against the rapidity of his speed and the suddenness 

 and streng-th of his plunges, caused the brute to slew 

 round suddenly, which brought him again in full view of 

 the Captain — who had been dodging round the sled — in 

 his full suit of scarlet. The exasperation of the bull at 

 this reappearance of the apparition which annoyed him, 

 then knew no bounds ; he made a desperate lunge at the 

 Captain — the Captain ran for it — the bull, jangling the 

 chain traces at his heels, pursued him — the Captain 

 increased his speed to the utmost — the bull was closing 

 upon him — the Captain doubled — the bull's breath felt hot 

 upon the captain's back, but neither his coolness nor his 

 pluck forsook him ; he espied a small opening imderneath 

 the wharf, for which he directed his hasty steps, and where, 

 in about five feet of water, the suit of scarlet was com- 

 pletely hidden from the glaring and disappointed eyes of 

 the infuriated bull, whose attention was immediately occu- 



L 4 



