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1"Well," he said, "I bear it because I must; but it is shortening my life, and it will shorten yours too if you have to
2stick to it." "Do you think," I said, "that our masters know how bad it is for us?" "I can't say," he replied, "but the
3dealers and the horse-doctors know it very well. I was at a dealer's once, who was training me and another horse to go
4as a pair; he was getting our heads up, as he said, a little higher and a little higher every day. A gentleman who was
5there asked him why he did so. 'Because,' said he, 'people won't buy them unless we do. The London people always want
6their horses to carry their heads high and to step high. Of course it is very bad for the horses, but then it is good
7for trade. The horses soon wear up, or get diseased, and they come for another pair.' That," said Max, "is what he said
8in my hearing, and you can judge for yourself." What I suffered with that rein for four long months in my lady's
9carriage it would be hard to describe; but I am quite sure that, had it lasted much longer, either my health or my
10temper would have given way. Before that, I never knew what it was to foam at the mouth, but now the action of the sharp
11bit on my tongue and jaw, and the constrained position of my head and throat, always caused me to froth at the mouth
12more or less. Some people think it very fine to see this, and say, "What fine spirited creatures!" But it is just as
13unnatural for horses as for men to foam at the mouth; it is a sure sign of some discomfort, and should be attended to.
14Besides this, there was a pressure on my windpipe, which often made my breathing very uncomfortable; when I returned
15from my work my neck and chest were strained and painful, my mouth and tongue tender, and I felt worn and depressed. In
16my old home I always knew that John and my master were my friends; but here, although in many ways I was well treated, I
17had no friend. York might have known, and very likely did know, how that rein harassed me; but I suppose he took it as a
18matter of course that it could not be helped; at any rate, nothing was done to relieve me. 24 The Lady Anne, or a
19Runaway Horse Early in the spring, Lord W---- and part of his family went up to London, and took York with them. I and
20Ginger and some other horses were left at home for use, and the head groom was left in charge. The Lady Harriet, who
21remained at the hall, was a great invalid, and never went out in the carriage, and the Lady Anne preferred riding on
22horseback with her brother or cousins. She was a perfect horsewoman, and as gay and gentle as she was beautiful. She
23chose me for her horse, and named me "Black Auster". I enjoyed these rides very much in the clear cold air, sometimes
24with Ginger, sometimes with Lizzie. This Lizzie was a bright bay mare, almost thoroughbred, and a great favorite with
25the gentlemen, on account of her fine action and lively spirit; but Ginger, who knew more of her than I did, told me she
26was rather nervous. There was a gentleman of the name of Blantyre staying at the hall; he always rode Lizzie, and
27praised her so much that one day Lady Anne ordered the side-saddle to be put on her, and the other saddle on me. When we
28came to the door the gentleman seemed very uneasy. "How is this?" he said. "Are you tired of your good Black Auster?"
29"Oh, no, not at all," she replied, "but I am amiable enough to let you ride him for once, and I will try your charming
30Lizzie. You must confess that in size and appearance she is far more like a lady's horse than my own favorite." "Do let
31me advise you not to mount her," he said; "she is a charming creature, but she is too nervous for a lady. I assure you,
32she is not perfectly safe; let me beg you to have the saddles changed." "My dear cousin," said Lady Anne, laughing,
33"pray do not trouble your good careful head about me. I have been a horsewoman ever since I was a baby, and I have
34followed the hounds a great many times, though I know you do not approve of ladies hunting; but still that is the fact,
35and I intend to try this Lizzie that you gentlemen are all so fond of; so please help me to mount, like a good friend as
36you are." There was no more to be said; he placed her carefully on the saddle, looked to the bit and curb, gave the
37reins gently into her hand, and then mounted me. Just as we were moving off a footman came out with a slip of paper and
38message from the Lady Harriet. "Would they ask this question for her at Dr. Ashley's, and bring the answer?" The village
39was about a mile off, and the doctor's house was the last in it. We went along gayly enough till we came to his gate.
40There was a short drive up to the house between tall evergreens. Blantyre alighted at the gate, and was going to open it
41for Lady Anne, but she said, "I will wait for you here, and you can hang Auster's rein on the gate." He looked at her
42doubtfully. "I will not be five minutes," he said. "Oh, do not hurry yourself; Lizzie and I shall not run away from
43you." He hung my rein on one of the iron spikes, and was soon hidden among the trees. Lizzie was standing quietly by the
44side of the road a few paces off, with her back to me. My young mistress was sitting easily with a loose rein, humming a
45little song. I listened to my rider's footsteps until they reached the house, and heard him knock at the door. There was
46a meadow on the opposite side of the road, the gate of which stood open; just then some cart horses and several young
47colts came trotting out in a very disorderly manner, while a boy behind was cracking a great whip. The colts were wild
48and frolicsome, and one of them bolted across the road and blundered up against Lizzie's hind legs, and whether it was
49the stupid colt, or the loud cracking of the whip, or both together, I cannot say, but she gave a violent kick, and
50dashed off into a headlong gallop. It was so sudden that Lady Anne was nearly unseated, but she soon recovered herself.
51I gave a loud, shrill neigh for help; again and again I neighed, pawing the ground impatiently, and tossing my head to
52get the rein loose. I had not long to wait. Blantyre came running to the gate; he looked anxiously about, and just
53caught sight of the flying figure, now far away on the road. In an instant he sprang to the saddle. I needed no whip, no
54spur, for I was as eager as my rider; he saw it, and giving me a free rein, and leaning a little forward, we dashed
55after them. For about a mile and a half the road ran straight, and then bent to the right, after which it divided into
56two roads. Long before we came to the bend she was out of sight. Which way had she turned? A woman was standing at her
57garden gate, shading her eyes with her hand, and looking eagerly up the road. Scarcely drawing the rein, Blantyre
58shouted, "Which way?" "To the right!" cried the woman, pointing with her hand, and away we went up the right-hand road;
59then for a moment we caught sight of her; another bend and she was hidden again. Several times we caught glimpses, and
60then lost them. We scarcely seemed to gain ground upon them at all. An old road-mender was standing near a heap of
61stones, his shovel dropped and his hands raised. As we came near he made a sign to speak. Blantyre drew the rein a
62little. "To the common, to the common, sir; she has turned off there." I knew this common very well; it was for the most
63part very uneven ground, covered with heather and dark-green furze bushes, with here and there a scrubby old thorn-tree;
64there were also open spaces of fine short grass, with ant-hills and mole-turns everywhere; the worst place I ever knew
65for a headlong gallop.
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