THE DOMESTIC HORSE, 171 



pieces of the wreck. The sea ran dreadfully high, and broke 

 over the sailors with such amazing fury, that no boat what- 

 ever could venture off to their assistance. Meanwhile a 

 planter, considerably advanced in life, had come from his 

 farm to be a spectator of the shipwreck; his heart was melted 

 at the sight of the unhappy seamen, and knowing the bold 

 and enterprising spirit of his horse, and his particular excel- 

 lence as a swimmer, he instantly determined to make a des- 

 perate effort for their deliverance. He alighted and blew a 

 little brandy into his horse's nostrils, and again seating himself 

 in the saddle, he instantly pushed into the midst of the 

 breakers. At first both disappeared, but it was not long 

 before they floated on the surface, and swam up to the 

 wreck; when taking with him two men, each of whom held 

 by one of his boots, he brought them safe to shore. This 

 perilous expedition he repeated no seldomer than seven times, 

 and saved fourteen lives ; but, on his return the eighth time, 

 his horse being much fatigued, and meeting a most formid- 

 able wave, he lost his balance and was overwhelmed in a 

 moment. The horse swam safely to land, but his gallant 

 rider was no more!" 



The Horse's Many remarkable instances are recorded of the 

 memory, exercise of the faculty of memory by horses. 

 Colonel Smith mentions an instance of a horse which he 

 had used for two years while in the army abroad, and 

 which some years later made himself known to his old 

 master with every demonstration of pleasure, though harnessed 

 to a mail coach. "That the horse remembers the scenes 

 and transactions of past times," says Captain Brown, "is 

 proved from every day's experience. It enters familiarly 

 into its usual abode; inclines to stop at its ordinary halting- 

 place; prefers a journey which it has formerly taken, and 

 falls readily into an occupation to which it has been accus- 

 tomed. It seeks the fields in which it has formerly pastured, 

 and has been known long afterwards to repair to tke scenes 



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