motion had all the stiffness of the marching step. His point, any two
points being given, was to make the straight line between them in the
shortest possible time, in an unbroken trot; but there was no danger of
his breaking it; he was not capable of a gallop; his limbs couldn't be
brought to it.

We passed out of town at an easy pace, talking over the last night's ball;
and while crossing the bridge the lieutenant called my attention to his
saddle, a cast-iron frame thinly covered with leather, leaving large
rib-spaces on the back, which he commended as being delightfully cool.
'But, my dear fellow,' said I, 'why didn't you get a blanket?' He replied
that after getting accustomed to it, it was much easier than the padded
saddle. 'Do you know,' said I, 'that that horse is a trotter?' 'I'm used
to trotters,' said he. 'You ease up a little in the stirrups?' 'No;
contrary to rules.'

We now entered the barren, and the moment the horses dipped their hoofs in
the sand, the old 'forker,' seeing the problem to be solved, took the bit
in his teeth and started for Picolata. At the first dash the forker went
ahead. He had laid his course, as they say at sea, and no up-helm or
down-helm had the slightest effect upon him. His mind was made up; no
wavering, no playfulness, no scarishness, no looking to the right or left.
Picolata was the point; 'no two ways' to Picolata; he was on the right
way, and he was the horse to do it in double-quick time. The little grey
had evidently thought it was too hot for any thing in his line; but as
soon as he noticed any thing like game in his companion, his head went
down as usual; and after a little hard running, we brushed by the old
fellow, made the requisite heading, wheeled, passing the forker on the
larboard quarter, and made the circuit, to his great satisfaction. 'Here
we go!' said I, as we passed him again; and this time the grey kept 'head
on' for some miles, till at length I succeeded in stopping him, and looked
back. The forker was coming in a bee-line, T---- bobbing up and down 'with
a short uneasy motion,' endeavoring to make a seat of his jacket which he
had stripped off; and as he came nearer I noticed that he was trying to
look very cool and comfortable. We waited till they came up, but there was
no stopping; the forker went by without winking or noticing the grey in
the slightest manner.

Easing up on the reins till we came abreast, 'How are you now?' said I.
'Oh, this is noth