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son should have betwixt his thighs； and here is the one of all
others which I would have chosen； since some small deed is to be
done in the winning of him； and some honorable advancement to be
gained。 How is the horse called？〃
〃Its name；〃 said the franklin； 〃is Pommers。 I warn you； young
sir； that none may ride him； for many have tried； and the luckiest
is he who has only a staved rib to show for it。〃
〃I thank you for your rede；〃 said Nigel； 〃and now I see that this
is indeed a horse which I would journey far to meet。 I am your
man； Pommers； and you are my horse； and this night you shall own
it or I will never need horse again。 My spirit against thine； and
God hold thy spirit high； Pommers； so that the greater be the
adventure； and the more hope of honor gained！〃
While he spoke the young Squire had climbed on to the top of the
wall and stood there balanced； the very image of grace and spirit
and gallantry； his bridle hanging from one hand and his whip
grasped in the other。 With a fierce snort； the horse made for him
instantly； and his white teeth flashed as he snapped； but again a
heavy blow from the loaded whip caused him to swerve； and even at
the instant of the swerve； measuring the distance with steady
eyes； and bending his supple body for the spring； Nigel bounded
into the air and fell with his legs astride the broad back of the
yellow horse。 For a minute； with neither saddle nor stirrups to
help him； and the beast ramping and rearing like a mad thing
beneath him； he was hard pressed to hold his own。 His legs were
like two bands of steel welded on to the swelling arches of the
great horse's ribs； and his left hand was buried deep in the tawny
mane。
Never had the dull round of the lives of the gentle brethren of
Waverley been broken by so fiery a scene。 Springing to right and
swooping to left； now with its tangled wicked head betwixt its
forefeet； and now pawing eight feet high in the air； with scarlet；
furious nostrils and maddened eyes； the yellow horse was a thing
of terror and of beauty。 But the lithe figure on his back；
bending like a reed in the wind to every movement； firm below；
pliant above； with calm inexorable face； and eyes which danced and
gleamed with the joy of contest； still held its masterful place
for all that the fiery heart and the iron muscles of the great
beast could do。
Once a long drone of dismay rose from the monks； as rearing higher
and higher yet a last mad effort sent the creature toppling over
backward upon its rider。 But； swift and cool； he had writhed from
under it ere it fell； spurned it with his foot as it rolled upon
the earth； and then seizing its mane as it rose swung himself
lightly on to its back once more。 Even the grim sacrist could not
but join the cheer； as Pommers； amazed to find the rider still
upon his back； plunged and curveted down the field。
But the wild horse only swelled into a greater fury。 In the
sullen gloom of its untamed heart there rose the furious resolve
to dash the life from this clinging rider； even if it meant
destruction to beast and man。 With red； blazing eyes it looked
round for death。 On three sides the five…virgate field was
bounded by a high wall； broken only at one spot by a heavy
four…foot wooden gate。 But on the fourth side was a low gray
building； one of the granges of the Abbey； presenting a long flank
unbroken by door or window。 The horse stretched itself into a
gallop； and headed straight for that craggy thirty…foot wall。 He
would break in red ruin at the base of it if he could but dash
forever the life of this man； who claimed mastery over that which
had never found its master yet。
The great haunches gathered under it； the eager hoofs drummed the
grass； as faster and still more fast the frantic horse bore
himself and his rider toward the wall。 Would Nigel spring off？
To do so would be to bend his will to that of the beast beneath
him。 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。
Blind； frantic fury surged in the yellow horse's heart once more
at this new degradation； this badge of serfdom and infamy。 His
spirit rose high and menacing at the touch。 He loathed this
place； these people； all and everything which threatened his
freedom。 He would have done with them forever； he would see them
no more。 Let him away to the uttermost parts of the earth； to the
great plains where freedom is。 Anywhere over the far horizon
where he could get away from the defiling bit and the insufferable
mastery of man。
He turned with a rush； and one magnificent deer…like bound carried
him over the four…foot gate。 Nigel's hat had flown off； and his
yellow curls streamed behind him as he rose and fell in the leap。
They were in the water…meadow now； and the rippling stream twenty
feet wide gleamed in front of them running down to the main
current of the Wey。 The yellow horse gathered his haunches under
him and flew over like an arrow。 He took off from behind a
boulder and cleared a furze…bush on the farther side。 Two stones
still mark the leap from hoof…mark to hoof…mark； and they are
eleven good paces apart。 Under the hanging branch of the great
oak…tree on the farther side （that Quercus Tilfordiensis ordiensis
is still shown as the bound of the Abby's immediate precincts） the
great horse passed。 He had hoped to sweep off his rider； but
Nigel sank low on the heaving back with his face buried in the
flying mane。 The rough bough rasped him rudely； but never shook
his spirit nor his grip。 Rearing； plunging and struggling；
Pommers broke through the sapling grove and was out on the broad
stretch of Hankley Down。
And now came such a ride as still lingers in the gossip of the
lowly country folk and forms the rude jingle of that old Surrey
ballad； now nearly forgotten； save for the refrain：
The Doe that sped on Hinde Head；
The Kestril on the winde；
And Nigel on the Yellow Horse
Can leave the world behinde。
Before them lay a rolling ocean of dark heather； knee…deep；
swelling in billow on billow up to the clear…cut hill before them。
Above stretched one unbroken arch of peaceful blue； with a sun
which was sinking down toward the Hampshire hills。 Through the
deep heather； down the gullies； over the watercourses； up the
broken slopes； Pommers flew； his great heart bursting with rage；
and every fiber quivering at the indignities which he had endured。
And still； do what he would； the man clung fast to his heaving
sides and to his flying mane； silent； motionless； inexorable；
letting him do what he would； but fixed as Fate upon his purpose。
Over Hankley Down； through Thursley Marsh； with the reeds up to
his mud…splashed withers； onward up the long slope of the Headland
of the Hinds； down by the Nutcombe Gorge； slipping； blundering；
bounding； but never slackening his fearful speed； on went the
great yellow horse。 The villagers of Shottermill heard the wild
clatter of hoofs； but ere they could swing the ox…hide curtains of
their cottage doors horse and rider were lost amid the high
bracken of the Haslemere Valley。 On he went； and on； tossing the
miles behind his flying hoofs。 No marsh…land could clog him； no
hill could hold him back。 Up the slope of Linchmere and the long
ascent of Fernhurst he thundered as on the level； and it was not
until he had flown down the incline of Henley Hill； and the gray
castle tower of Midhurst rose over the coppice in front； that at
last the eager outstretched neck sank a little on the breast； and
the breath came quick and fast。 Look where he would in woodland
and on down； his straining eyes could catch no sign of those
plains of freedom which he sought。
And yet another outrage！ It was bad that this creature should
still cl