I considered him to be by far the most savage I had ever seen. 'Try
him to-morrow at one o'clock,' said he, as he turned to go away: 'I
will have a few friends with me to see how you succeed.'

I determined, however, to try him that night, and without any witness
to see whether I succeeded or not. My room was over the stables, and
as the moon did not rise till eleven o'clock, I threw myself upon the
bedclothes, and, contrary to my intention, fell asleep. When I awoke,
it was twelve, the moon was shining brightly, and rendering everything
as visible as if it were day.

I went down to the stable with a bridle prepared for the purpose, and
a heavily-loaded whip in my hand. I knew that it would be impossible
to saddle him; and, indeed, I should be safer on his bare back, in the
event of his throwing himself down. I opened the stable-door gently,
and there he was prone on his side, his legs and neck stretched out,
as I have often seen horses lying after sore fatigue. I clapped my
knee upon his head, loosed the collar that bound him, slipped the bit
into his mouth, buckled the throat-band, raised him to his feet,
backed him out, and leaped upon his back before he had time to get his
eyes right opened. But open them now he did, and that with a
vengeance; he pawed, and struck the walls with his fore-feet, till the
fire flashed from the stones; and then he reared till he fell right
back upon the pavement. I was prepared for this, and slipped off him
as he went down, and then leaped on him again as he rose. I had not as
yet touched him with whip, bridle, or spur; but now I gave him the
curb and the spurs at the same instant. He gave one mad bound, and
then went off at a rate that completely eclipsed the speed of the
fleetest horse I had ever ridden. He could not trot, but his gallop
was unapproachable, and consisted in a succession of leaps, performed