look, in which fear and fury were strangely blended. I am not
without superstition, and for an instant I quailed under that look, as
the thought struck me, that the black, unshapely brute before me might
actually be the spirit indicated by his name. With a muttered growl at
my folly, I threw the idea from me--leaped up--seized the reins--with
a lash and a cry made him spring to his feet--mounted him as he rose,
and struck the spurs into his sides. He reared and wheeled; but
finding that he could not get rid of me, and being unable to stand the
torture of the spurs, which I used freely (it was no time for mercy!)
he gave two or three plunges, and then bounded away at that dreadful
leaping gallop--that pace which seemed peculiarly his own. I tried to
moderate his speed with the bridle; but found, to my surprise, that I
had no command over him. I knew at once that something was wrong, as,
with the bit I had in his mouth, I ought to have had the power to have
broken his jawbone. I stooped forward to ascertain the cause; the
loose curb dangling at the side of his head gave a satisfactory
explanation.

He had it all his own way now; he was fairly off with me; and all I
could do was to bear his head as well up as I could, to prevent him
from stumbling. However, as it would have been bad policy to let him
know how much he was master, I gave him an occasional touch with the
spur, as if wishing him to accelerate his pace; and when he made an
extra bound, I patted him on the neck, as if pleased with his
performance.

A watery cloud was passing over the face of the moon, which rendered
everything dim and indistinct, as we tore away down a grassy slope;
the view terminating in a grove of tall trees, situated upon a
rising-ground. Beyond the dark outline of the trees, I saw nothing.

As we neared the grove, Satan slackened his speed; this I thought he
did with a view to crush me against the trunks of the trees. To
prevent him from having time to do this, I struck him with the spurs,
and away again he went like fury. As he burst through the trees, I
flung my head forward upon his neck, to prevent myself from being
swept off by the lower branches. In doing this, the spurs accidentally
came in contact with his sides. He gave one tremendous leap
forward--the ground sank under his feet--the horse was thrown over his
own head--I was jerked into the air--and, amid an avalanche of earth
and stones, we were hurled down a perpendicular ban