. The adventures of a gentleman in search of a horse. Horses. 228 THE ADVENTCRES OF A GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OP A HORSE. 229 i -cessfully, till I arrived at New street, when Caliban was startled by the abrupt and hurried approach of a landau, passing two or three yards before us, directly across our course. He immediately retreated at speed, but with hi% face to the enemy ! I spurred, I flogged, I kicked him with all my energy, but in vain; the more I spurred, the more resolutely he re- trograded ! I endeavored to turn him on either side but he caught the check of the bit between his teeth, held
. The adventures of a gentleman in search of a horse. Horses. 228 THE ADVENTCRES OF A GENTLEMAN IN SEARCH OP A HORSE. 229 i -cessfully, till I arrived at New street, when Caliban was startled by the abrupt and hurried approach of a landau, passing two or three yards before us, directly across our course. He immediately retreated at speed, but with hi% face to the enemy ! I spurred, I flogged, I kicked him with all my energy, but in vain; the more I spurred, the more resolutely he re- trograded ! I endeavored to turn him on either side but he caught the check of the bit between his teeth, held down his head, and defied me ! I would have given my ears for a plunge or a rear, for the eccentricity of the movement made me the laughing stock of the assembled mob: ludicrous misfortune, especially on horseback, has always an indescribable charm for the million; good humor is the only remedy in such a case, and I laughed too, though with little zest for the sport. But my distress approached its climax. Caliban at length planted himself at the carriage door of a drowsky, fixed in the line of carriages, in which were four ladies, heartily enjoying my vexa- tion, if I might judge from a hasty glance at their lovely smiles: but if it was so, Caliban maliciously avenged me. Desperate with shame, and mad with the ridicule of the scene, I fairly buried the rowels in his side. I dare not describe the terrific consequen- ces ; finis coronat opas, ***** One fatal scream announced the catastrophe; and Caliban, satisfied with the mischief he had perpetrated, danced off in the right direction, to the old tune of " the devil take the hindmost.'* I turned my head—not to laugh, I solemnly declare—but to take my hat, and apologize. It was however past apology ; white hand- kerchiefs were wiping away the falling tears ! another look would have been death. I decamped. The mob had new matter for fun, and I escaped un- scathed. Let my readers take a lesson to beware of a " horse wo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublisher, booksubjecthorses
