第4章

When the latter declared that the horse he rode had not sufficient life and spirit for him, Jonas had set inquiries on foot, and had selected for him a horse which, for speed and bottom, had no superior in the State.One of Mrs.Wingfleld's acquaintances, however, upon hearing that she had purchased the animal, told her that it was notorious for its vicious temper, and she spoke angrily to Jonas on the subject in the presence of Vincent.The overseer excused himself by saying that he had certainly heard that the horse was high spirited and needed a good rider, and that he should not have thought of selecting it had he not known that Mr.Vincent was a first-class rider, and would not care to have a horse that any child could manage.

The praise was not undeserved.The gentlemen of Virginia were celebrated as good riders; and Major Wingfield, himself a cavalry man, had been anxious that Vincent should maintain the credit of his English blood, and had placed him on a pony as soon as he was able to sit on one.A pony had been kept for his use during his holidays at his uncle's in England, and upon his return Vincent had, except during the hours he spent with his father, almost lived on horseback, either riding about the estate, or paying visits to the houses of other planters.

For an hour or more every day he exercised his father's horses in a paddock near the house, the major being wheeled down in an easy-chair and superintending his riding.As these horses had little to do and were full of spirit, Vincent's powers were often taxed to the utmost, and he had many falls; but the soil was light, and he had learned the knack of falling easily, and from constant practice was able at the age of fourteen to stick on firmly even without a saddle, and was absolutely fearless as to any animal he mounted.

In the two years which had followed he had kept up his riding.

Every morning after breakfast he rode to Richmond, six miles distant, put up his horse at some stable there, and spent three hours at school; the rest of the day was his own, and he would often ride off with some of his schoolfellows who had also come in from a distance, and not return home till late in the evening.Vincent took after his English father rather than his Virginian mother both in appearance and character, and was likely to become as tall and brawny a man as the former had been when he first won the love of the rich Virginian heiress.

He was full of life and energy, and in this respect offered a strong contrast to most of his schoolfellows of the same age.For although splendid riders and keen sportsmen, the planters of Virginia were in other respects inclined to indolence; the result partly of the climate, partly of their being waited upon from childhood by attendants ready to carry out every wish.He had his father's cheerful disposition and good temper, together with the decisive manner so frequently acquired by a service in the army, and at the same time be had something of the warmth and enthusiasm of the Virginian character.

Good rider as he was he was somewhat surprised at the horse the overseer had selected for him.It was certainly a splendid animal, with great bone and power; but there was no mistaking the expression of its turned-back eye, and the ears that lay almost flat on the head when any one approached him.

"It is a splendid animal, no doubt, Jonas," he said the first time lie inspected it; "but he certainly looks as if lie had a beast of a temper.I fear what was told my mother about him is no exaggeration; for Mr.Markham told me to-day, when I rode down there with his son, and said that we had bought Wildfire, that a friend of his had had him once, and only kept him for a week, for he was the most vicious brute he ever saw.""I am sorry I have bought him now, sir," Jonas said."Of course Ishould not have done so if I had heard these things before; but Iwas told he was one of the finest horses in the country, only a little tricky, and as his price was so reasonable I thought it a great bargain.But I see now I was wrong, and that it wouldn't be right for you to mount him; so I think we had best send him in on Saturday to the market and let it go for what it will fetch.You see, sir, if you had been three or four years older it would have been different; but naturally at your age you don't like to ride such a horse as that.""I sha'n't give it up without a trial," Vincent said shortly."It is about the finest horse I ever saw; and if it hadn't been for its temper, it would be cheap at five times the sum you gave for it.Ihave ridden a good many bad-tempered horses for my friends during the last year, and the worst of them couldn't get me off.""Well, sir, of course you will do as you please," Jonas said; "but please to remember if any harm comes of it that I strongly advised you not to have anything to do with it, and I did my best to dissuade you from trying."Vincent nodded carelessly, and then turned to the black groom.

"Jake, get out that cavalry saddle of my father's, with the high cantle and pommel, and the rolls for the knees.It's like an armchair, and if one can't stick on on that, one deserves to be thrown."While the groom was putting on the saddle, Vincent stood patting the horse's head and talking to it, and then taking its rein led it down into the inclosure.

"No, I don't want the whip, " he said, as Jake offered him one."Ihave got the spurs, and likely enough the horse's temper may have been spoiled by knocking it about with a whip; but we will try what kindness will do with it first.""Me no like his look, Massa Vincent; he debbie ob a hoss dat.""I don't think he has a nice temper, Jake; but people learn to control their temper, and I don't see why horse shouldn't.At any rate we will have a try at it.He looks as if he appreciates being patted and spoken to already.Of course if you treat a horse like a savage he will become savage.Now, stand out of the way."Gathering the reins together, and placing one hand upon the pommel, Vincent sprang into the saddle without touching the stirrups; then he sat for a minute or two patting the horse's neck.