"master," who presented himself to my
astonished eyes, mounted on Corporal Dash (a horse of his I had so
named), with a long hunting whip (a very old friend of mine) in his
hand. The moment I recognized these old acquaintances, I saw that I had
not a minute to lose; so, making up my mind that a good retreat was far
better than a bad fight, I ran off at full charge, as fast as my legs
would carry me, my master riding after me, and roaring out most lustily,
"Stop! stop!" If, instead of "Stop," he had said "Halt," it is more than
probable that my legs would instinctively have obeyed; for, from the
constant drills to which they had been subjected, they began to move
quite mechanically. As it was, however, on I went, until a stile brought
my master up; when, as I was quite out of breath, I thought I might as
well halt too. Here I had the satisfaction of hearing my master swear
roundly, that he would kill me when he caught me. "Thank God," thought I
to myself, "you have not got me yet." The moment my persecutor rode on,
I cut across a field, and again gained the head of the corps of Royal
Horse Artillery, who were at this time just entering the suburbs of the
village. Here I dared not venture to follow them any farther, until my
master's hurricane had blown over; so I mounted a gate, where my heart
yearned after them, as that of a wounded soldier does after his corps in
the battle's heat. Here I again set my wits to work how to elude the
chastisement I was sure to receive from the infuriated man of clods. The
regiment which I had seen was, I had ascertained, on its march to
Yarmouth, to embark for foreign service; and, from the condescending
manner of the colonel (who returned my salute), I made no doubt whatever
that he would be glad to take me for a soldier. Full of these thoughts,
I loitered about all day, but dared not venture in, until, at length, my
interior began to express wants respecting which I had not before
reflected. These demands were of a nature not to be drilled into
obedience; so, at last, overcome by fatigue and inanition, in I marched,
having first seen my master march out. My mistress, who was ever ready
to act the part of a kind mother towards me, soon provided me with a
substantial meal. I was not long in doing justice to the repast thus
kindly set before me; and, having effectually satisfied my appetite for
the time present, I took the precaution of lining my pockets with a
large hunch of bread and chee