Stories about the Instinct of Animals, Their Characters, and Habits | Page 3

paid to the breeding
of horses in our own country, however, for the race-course as well as
the hunting-field, that the English horses are now almost unequalled,
both for speed and endurance.
"It is little wonder, however, that the Arabian horse should be the most
excellent, considering the care and attention which it receives, and the
kindness and consideration with which it is treated. One of the best
stories which I ever heard of the love of an Arabian for his steed, is that
related of an Arab from whom one of our envoys wished to purchase
his horse.
"The animal was a bright bay mare, of extraordinary shape and beauty;
and the owner, proud of its appearance and qualities, paraded it before
the envoy's tent until it attracted his attention. On being asked if he
would sell her, 'What will you give me?' was the reply. 'That depends
upon her age; I suppose she is past five?' 'Guess again,' said he. 'Four?'
'Look at her mouth,' said the Arab, with a smile. On examination she
was found to be rising three. This, from her size and symmetry, greatly
enhanced her value. The envoy said, 'I will give you fifty tomans' (a
coin nearly of the value of a pound sterling). 'A little more, if you
please,' said the fellow, somewhat entertained. 'Eighty--a hundred.' He
shook his head and smiled. The officer at last came to two hundred
tomans. 'Well,' said the Arab, 'you need not tempt me farther. You are a
rich elchee (nobleman); you have fine horses, camels, and mules, and I

am told you have loads of silver and gold. Now,' added he, 'you want
my mare, but you shall not have her for all you have got.' He put spurs
to his horse, and was soon out of the reach of temptation.
"Swift as the Arabian horses are, however, they are frequently matched
by those of our own country. I say nothing about race horses, because,
though some of them are recorded to have run at an amazing speed, the
effort is generally continued for but a short time. Here is an instance of
speed in a horse which saved its unworthy master from the punishment
due to his crime.
[Illustration: CATCHING WILD HORSES--Page 13.]
"One morning about four o'clock a gentleman was stopped, and robbed
by a highwayman named Nicks, at Gadshill, on the west side of
Chatham. He was mounted on a bay mare of great speed and endurance,
and as soon as he had accomplished his purpose, he instantly started for
Gravesend, where he was detained nearly an hour by the difficulty of
getting a boat. He employed the interval to advantage however in
baiting his horse. From thence he got to Essex and Chelmsford, where
he again stopped about half an hour to refresh his horse. He then went
to Braintree, Bocking, Weathersfield, and over the Downs to
Cambridge, and still pursuing the cross roads, he went by Fenney and
Stratford to Huntingdon, where he again rested about half an hour.
Proceeding now on the north road, and at a full gallop most of the way,
he arrived at York the same afternoon, put off his boots and riding
clothes, and went dressed to the bowling-green, where, among other
promenaders, happened to be the Lord Mayor of the city. He there
studied to do something particular, that his lordship might remember
him, and asking what o'clock it was, the mayor informed him that it
was a quarter past eight. Notwithstanding all these precautions,
however, he was discovered, and tried for the robbery; he rested his
defence on the fact of his being at York at such a time. The gentleman
swore positively to the time and place at which the robbery was
committed, but on the other hand, the proof was equally clear that the
prisoner was at York at the time specified. The jury acquitted him on
the supposed impossibility of his having got so great a distance from

Kent by the time he was seen in the bowling-green. Yet he was the
highwayman."
"So that he owed his safety to the speed of his horse, Uncle Thomas."
"He did so, Harry. The horse can on occasion swim about as well as
most animals, yet it never takes to the water unless urged to do so.
There is a story about a horse saving the lives of many persons who had
suffered shipwreck by being driven upon the rocks at the Cape of Good
Hope, which, I am sure, will interest you as much for the perseverance
and docility of the animal, as for the benevolence and intrepidity of its
owner.
"A violent gale of wind setting in from north and north-west, a vessel in
the roads dragged her anchors, was forced on