to back to the left, or
_vice versa_; he knows, indeed, the principle, but he becomes paralyzed
in its application. Frank never was embarrassed, never confused. My
friend had but to say, "Back, Frank!" and Frank knew from the nature of
the ground how far to back and which way to turn. He has thus extricated
my friend from positions in which it appeared to him that no earthly
power could relieve him.

In going up hill Frank knew just when to give himself a rest, and at
what moment to join the party in looking about and enjoying the
prospect. He was also an adept in scratching off flies, and had a
precision in reaching an insect anywhere in his van with one of his rear
hooves which few of us attain in slapping mosquitoes. This action
sometimes disquieted persons in the phaeton, but Frank knew perfectly
well what he was about, and if harm had happened to the people under his
charge my friend was sure that Frank could have done anything short of
applying arnica and telegraphing to their friends. His varied knowledge
of life and his long experience had satisfied him that there were very
few things to be afraid of in this world. Such womanish weaknesses as
shying and starting were far from him, and he regarded the boisterous
behavior of locomotives with indifference. He had not, indeed, the
virtue of one horse offered to my friend's purchase, of standing,
unmoved, with his nose against a passing express train; but he was
certainly not afraid of the cars.

Frank was by no means what Mr. Emerson calls a mush of concession; he
was not merely amiable; he had his moments of self-assertion, his
touches of asperity. It was not safe to pat his nose, like the erring
Billy's; he was apt to bring his handsome teeth together in proximity to
the caressing hand with a sharp click and a sarcastic grin. Not that he
ever did, or ever would really bite. So, too, when left to stand long
under fly-haunted cover, he would start off afterwards with alarming
vehemence; and he objected to the saddle. On the only occasion when any
of my friend's family mounted him, he trotted gayly over the grass
towards the house, with the young gentleman on his back; then, without
warning, he stopped short, a slight tremor appeared to pass over him,
and his rider continued the excursion some ten feet farther, alighting
lump-wise on a bunch of soft turf which Frank had selected for his
reception.

The summer passed, and in the comfort of Frank's possession my fri