If
You Will Mount Him, Senor, Suffer Me To Fetch A Bridle, For You Can
Never Hold Him In With The Halter."
"This is nonsense," said I. "You pretend that he is spirited in
order to enhance the price.
I tell you his work is done."
I took the halter in my hand and mounted. I was no sooner on his
back than the creature, who had before stood stone still, without
displaying the slightest inclination to move, and who in fact gave
no farther indication of existence than occasionally rolling his
eyes and pricking up an ear, sprang forward like a racehorse, at a
most desperate gallop. I had expected that he might kick or fling
himself down on the ground, in order to get rid of his burden, but
for this escapade I was quite unprepared. I had no difficulty,
however, in keeping on his back, having been accustomed from my
childhood to ride without a saddle. To stop him, however, baffled
all my endeavours, and I almost began to pay credit to the words of
the Gypsy, who had said that he would run on until he reached the
sea. I had, however, a strong arm, and I tugged at the halter
until I compelled him to turn slightly his neck, which from its
stiffness might almost have been of wood; he, however, did not
abate his speed for a moment. On the left side of the road down
which he was dashing was a deep trench, just where the road took a
turn towards the right, and over this he sprang in a sideward
direction; the halter broke with the effort, the pony shot forward
like an arrow, whilst I fell back into the dust.
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