64 STORIES ABOUT HORSES.

to retrieve himself, he leaped sidelong upon the
battlements, which are upwards of four feet
high. The rider seemmg it imipossible to recover
his horse, and the improbability of saving either
of their lives had he floundered over head fore-
most, had presence of mind to strike him on
both sides with his spurs, and force him to take
a clear leap. Owing to this precaution he
alighted upon his feet, and the rider firmly kept
his seat, till reaching the bottom he leaped off.
When it is considered that the height of the
bridge is upwards of twenty feet and a half to
the top of the battlements, and that there was
not one foot depth of water in the bed of the
river where they alighted, it is really wonderful
that they were not both struck dead on the
spot. Yet neither the horse nor its rider were
disabled from immediately pursuing their jour-
ney.

“‘ An incident of the same kind occurred to
the celebrated Lord Herbert, which he tells in
these words:—‘ I will tell one more history