DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12673#0349
328 GOA AND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.
a charge, and the consequences of a charge might
have been serious. We found little difficulty in
escaping the general rush of our assailants, by
means of a sharp touch with the spur : one by
one they tailed off, stood looking at our decreas-
ing form in angry disgust, and returned to their
normal occupation. But Taurus, the ringleader,
seemed determined upon mischief. He pursued us
with the dogged determination of a lyme hound :
he had speed as well as bottom. Whenever we
attempted to breathe the pony, the rapidity with
which our friend gained ground upon us, was a
warning not to try that trick too long. Close upon
our quarters followed the big beast with his curved
horns duly prepared : his eyes flashing fire, and his
grunting snorts indicative of extreme rage. We
could scarcely help laughing at the agility with
which the monstrous body, on its four little legs,
bowled away over the level turf, or at the same
time wishing that our holsters contained the means
of chastising his impudence.
How long the recreation might have lasted, or
how it might have ended had not a long mud wall
got between Taurus and ourselves, we cannot say.
He followed us for at least a mile, and seemed by
no means tired of the occupation. We were be-
a charge, and the consequences of a charge might
have been serious. We found little difficulty in
escaping the general rush of our assailants, by
means of a sharp touch with the spur : one by
one they tailed off, stood looking at our decreas-
ing form in angry disgust, and returned to their
normal occupation. But Taurus, the ringleader,
seemed determined upon mischief. He pursued us
with the dogged determination of a lyme hound :
he had speed as well as bottom. Whenever we
attempted to breathe the pony, the rapidity with
which our friend gained ground upon us, was a
warning not to try that trick too long. Close upon
our quarters followed the big beast with his curved
horns duly prepared : his eyes flashing fire, and his
grunting snorts indicative of extreme rage. We
could scarcely help laughing at the agility with
which the monstrous body, on its four little legs,
bowled away over the level turf, or at the same
time wishing that our holsters contained the means
of chastising his impudence.
How long the recreation might have lasted, or
how it might have ended had not a long mud wall
got between Taurus and ourselves, we cannot say.
He followed us for at least a mile, and seemed by
no means tired of the occupation. We were be-