There was a better way than that. Cool, quick and decided,
the man swiftly passed both whip and bridle into the left hand
which still held the mane. Then with the right he slipped his
short mantle from his shoulders and lying forward along the
creature's strenuous, rippling back he cast the flapping cloth
over the horse's eyes.
The result was but too successful, for it nearly brought about the
downfall of the rider. When those red eyes straining for death
were suddenly shrouded in unexpected darkness the amazed horse
propped on its forefeet and came to so dead a stop that Nigel was
shot forward on to its neck and hardly held himself by his
hair-entwined hand. Ere he had slid back into position the moment
of danger had passed, for the horse, its purpose all blurred in
its mind by this strange thing which had befallen, wheeled round
once more, trembling in every fiber, and tossing its petulant head
until at last the mantle had been slipped from its eyes and the
chilling darkness had melted into the homely circle of sunlit
grass once more.
But what was this new outrage which had been inflicted upon it?
What was this defiling bar of iron which was locked hard against
its mouth? What were these straps which galled the tossing neck,
this band which spanned its chest? In those instants of stillness
ere the mantle had been plucked away Nigel had lain forward, had
slipped the snaffle between the champing teeth, and had deftly
secured it.
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