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Down it now there came in a drowsy amble an old white bob-tail horse, his polished coat shining like silver when he crossed an expanse of sunlight, fading into spectral paleness when he passed under the rayless trees; his foretop floating like a snowy plume in the light wind, his unshod feet, half-covered by the fetlocks, stepping noiselessly over the loamy earth; the rims of his nostrils expanding like flexible ebony; and in his eyes that look of peace which is never seen but in those of petted animals.
The songs were almost all sad, but with a sound of comfort. One I can faintly recall. The very dead that lay at his feet, Lapt in the mouldy winding-sheet. But he curbed him and spurred him, until he stood Still in his place, like a horse of wood, With nostrils uplift, and eyes wide and wan; But the sweat in streams from his fetlocks ran.
Whereupon he turned his back to the wind. The afternoon grew apace; the sun glistened on the white patches of Coconina Mountain; it set; and the wind died. "Five miles of red sand," said Naab. "Here's what kills the horses. Getup." There was no trail. All before was red sand, hollows, slopes, levels, dunes, in which the horses sank above their fetlocks.
Fear, or girlish modesty, had hitherto kept her silent. Then Atys rose on his fetlocks! Despite his double burden, the good steed meant to have it. He deemed, perchance, he was with the Quorn or the Baron's. He rose; he sprang. The deep yellow water, cold in the moon's rays, with the farthest bank but a chill grey line in the mist, lay beneath us! A moment that seemed an eternity!
The beast was fresh, for it had not been out for two days a rough Forest shelty with shaggy fetlocks and a mane like a thicket. Sim set his old saddle on it, and went back to the house. His wife was still asleep, breathing painfully. He put water on the fire to boil, and fetched a handful of meal from the ark. With this he made a dish of gruel, and set it by the bedside.
Last he came to his own riding-horse in the loose box, a pretty creature with four white fetlocks, who was rather nervous, and unusually tender-mouthed. Baldwin shrank from the man in the dark brown suit, and it was only when the sergeant-major spoke that the animal recognised him. Even then he was shy, and sugar and bread failed to re assure him.
'Round hoofed, short jointed, fetlocks shag and long, Broad breast, full eyes, small head, and nostril wide, High crest, short ears, straight legs, and passing strong, Thin mane, thick tale, broad buttock, tender hide."
A groom led him to me with a strap. The horse had long teeth, hollows in the chest, lumpy fetlocks in short, all the signs of respectable age; but he had powerful shoulders, a large breast, a neck which was both strong and supple, head well held, tail well placed, and an irreproachable back. It wasn't, however, all this that attracted most my attention.
They have well-shaped bodies, thick hair, large fetlocks, large legs and front hoofs, which makes them look like draft-horses. Their heads are rather large, and their mouths hard. They run but slowly, but walk well, and are spirited, and of much mettle. The daily feed of the horses consists throughout the year of green provender, besides rice in the husk, which keeps them very fat.
I examined the piebald critically, walking and trotting him round; looked into his mouth, then at hoofs and fetlocks, beloved of windgalls; gazed with fixed attention into his eyes and dealt him a sudden brisk blow on the shoulder. "No weak spot will you find, senor," said Antonio the mendacious, who was certainly the greatest of the three sinners met together in that place.
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