e Nore were still full of woodland beauty;
and, then, there was lake scenery unrivalled throughout Europe.

I turned to Stebbe's narrative for details of his outfit. His horse be
bought at Nordheim for two hundred and forty gulden,--about ten pounds;
his saddle and knapsack cost him a little more than forty shillings;
with his map, guide-book, compass, and some little extras, all were
comprised within twenty pounds sterling,--surely not too costly an
equipage for one who was adventuring on a sea wide as the world itself.

As _my_ trial was a mere experiment, to be essayed on the most limited
scale, I resolved not to buy, but only hire a horse, taking him by the
day, so that if any change of mind or purpose supervened I should not
find myself in any embarrassment.

A fond uncle had just left me a legacy of a hundred pounds, which,
besides, was the season of the long vacation; thus did everything
combine to favor the easy execution of a plan which I determined
forthwith to put into practice.

"Something quiet and easy to ride, sir, you said?" repeated Mr. Dycer
after me, as I entered his great establishment for the sale and hire of
horses. "Show the gentleman four hundred and twelve."

"Oh, Heaven forbid!" I exclaimed, in ignorance; "such a number would
only confuse me."

"You mistake me, sir," blandly interposed the dealer; "I meant the horse
that stands at that number. Lead him out, Tim. He 's gentle as a lamb,
sir, and, if you find he suits you, can be had for a song,--I mean a ten
pound note."

"Has he a long mane and tail?" I asked, eagerly.

"The longest tail and the fullest mane I ever saw. But here he comes."
And with the word, there advanced towards us, at a sort of easy amble,
a small-sized cream-colored horse, with white mane and tail. Knowing
nothing of horseflesh, I was fain to content myself with such
observations as other studies might supply me with; and so I closely
examined his head, which was largely developed in the frontal region,
with moral qualities fairly displayed. He had memory large, and
individuality strong; nor was wit, if it exist in the race, deficient
Over the orbital region the depressions were deep enough to contain my
closed fist, and when I remarked upon them to the groom, he said, "'T
is his teeth will tell you the rayson of that;" a remark which I suspect
was a sarcasm upon my general ignorance.

I liked the creature's eye. It was soft, mild, and contemplative; and
although