Here we are,
now, all right, and nothin' to do but go along!"
"Now, then!"
"Come up! come! come!"
But in vain were caresses; in vain were chirrups, duckings, and kisses,
wafted to the nigh leader. Like the rebellious South of to-day, he had
taken his attitude, and stood now on four legs, now on two, pawing only
the dark air, and regardless of the general welfare behind him.
"Now what will you do, driver?" said cowardly I, who, always mortally
afraid of horse-flesh, felt on this occasion a strange confidence:
partly in the staid, heavy mass of determination beside me, who looked
so calm and good-natured; and partly in the queer, elfin look of the
beast, who seemed so far off as to have no necessary connection with our
safety or ultimate progress. It seemed quite possible for us to get on
with the other three pulling, while our demoniacal friend ornamented the
occasion by plunges, rearings, and kickings.
Still gathering the reins lightly in his large hand, the stable and sure
intelligence beside me calmly chirruped, and then as calmly switched his
long whip at the distant rebel brute.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373