dapple-gray, I saw over my head a large horse's hoof descending. Then
this large hoof pressed, with a certain gentleness, however, on my
chest, and pushed me delicately back on the ground, on my back this
time.

"I was greatly discouraged; and feeling incapable of another effort, I
remained in that position, continuing to ask myself what sort of a horse
I had bought at Chéri's, closing my eyes, and awaiting death.

"Suddenly I heard a curious trampling around me; a quantity of little
hard things struck me on the face. I opened my eyes, and perceived
Brutus, who, with his fore-feet and hind-legs, was trying with
incredible activity and prodigious skill to bury me in the sand. He was
doing his best, poor beast, and from time to time he stopped to gaze at
his work; then, raising his head, he neighed and began his work again.
That lasted for a good three or four minutes, after which Brutus,
judging me doubtless sufficiently interred, placed himself very
respectfully on his knees before my tomb--on his knees, literally on his
knees! He was saying, I suppose, a little prayer. I looked at him. It
interested me extremely.

"His prayer finished, Brutus made a slight bow, went off a few steps,
stopped, then, beginning to gallop, made at least twenty times the
circuit of the open space in the middle of which he had buried me.
Brutus galloped very well, with even stride, head well held, on the
right foot, making around me a perfect circle. I followed him with my
eyes, but it made me uneasy to see him go round and round and round. I
had the strength to cry 'Stop! stop!' The horse stopped and seemed
embarrassed, without doubt asking himself what there was still to be
done; but he perceived my hat, which in my fall had got separated from