"You keep quiet," said Mr. Saunders, coolly; "if he kicks, I'll give him such a lathering as he never had yet; he won't do it but once. I ain't agoing to hurt him, but I am agoing to make him rear no, I won't I'll make him leap over a rail, the first bar-place we come to that'll be prettier."
"Oh, you mustn't do that." said Ellen "I have not learned to leap yet I couldn't keep on you musn't do that if you please."
"You just hold fast, and hold your tongue. Catch hold of his ears, and you'll stick on fast enough; if you can't, you may get down, for I am going to make him take the leap, whether you will or no."
Ellen feared still more to get off and leave the Brownie to her tormentor's mercy, than to stay where she was, and take her chance. She tried in vain, as well as she could, to soothe her horse; the touches of the whip coming now in one place, and now in another, and some of them pretty sharp, he began to grow very frisky indeed; and she began to be very much frightened, for fear she should suddenly be jerked off. With a good deal of presence of mind, though wrought up to a terrible pitch of excitement and fear, Ellen gave her best attention to keeping her seat as the Brownie sprang, and started, and jumped, to one side and the other; Mr. Saunders holding the bridle as loose as possible, so as give him plenty of room. For some little time he amused himself with this game, the horse growing more and more irritated. At length a smart stroke of the whip upon his haunches, made the Brownie spring in a way that brought Ellen's heart into her mouth and almost threw her off.
"Oh, don't!" cried Ellen, bursting into tears for the first time she had with great effort commanded them back until now; "poor Brownie! How can you! Oh, please let us go! please let us go!"
For one minute she dropped her face in her hands.
"Be quiet!" said Mr. Saunders. "Here's a bar-place now for the leap!"
Ellen wiped away her tears, forced back those that were coming, and began the most earnest remonstrance and pleading with Mr. Saunders that she knew how to make. He paid her no sort of attention. He led the Brownie to the side of the road, let down all the bars but the lower two, let go the bridle, and stood a little off, prepared with his whip to force the horse to take the spring.
"I tell you I shall fall," said Ellen, reining him back. "How can you be so cruel! I want to go home!"
"Well, you ain't agoing home yet. Get off, if you are afraid."