BUTinthewinterofthatveryyearEdward,whilehunting,hadanaccident.Foryearshehadmadeapracticeofridingunmanageablehorses,andheneverheardofaviciousbeastwithoutwishingtotryit.Heknewthathewasafinerider,andsincehewasnevershyofparadinghispowers,norloathtotauntothersonthescoreofinferiorskillorcourage,hepreferreddifficultanimals.Itgratifiedhimtoseepeoplepointtohimandsay,“There’sagoodrider:”andhisbestjokewithsomepersononahorsethatpulledorrefused,wastocry:“Youdon’tseemfriendswithyourgeewouldyouliketotrymine?”Andthen,touchingitssideswithhisspurs,hesetitprancing.Hewasmercilesswiththecautioushunterswholookedforlowpartsofahedgeortriedtogetthroughagateinsteadofoveritandwhenanyonesaidajumpwasdangerous,Edwardwithalaughpromptlywentforit,shoutingashedidso—
“Iwouldn’ttryitifIwereyou.Youmightfalloff.”
Hehadjustboughtaroanforameresong,becauseitjumpeduncertainly,andhadatrickofswingingafore-legasitrose.Hetookitoutontheearliestopportunity,andthefirsttwohedgesandaditchthehorseclearedeasily.Edwardthoughtthatonceagainhehadgotforalmostnothingahunterthatmerelywantedridingproperlytobehavelikealamb.Theyrodeon,andcametoapostandrailfence.
“Now,mybeauty,this’llshowwhatyou’remadeof.”
Hetookthehorseupinacanter,andpressedhislegsthehorsedidnotrise,butswervedroundsuddenly.
“No,youdon’t,”saidEdward,takinghimback.
Hedughisspursin,andthehorsecanteredup,andrefusedagain.ThistimeEdwardgrewangry.ArthurBrandertoncameflyingby,andhavingmanyoldscorestopay,laughedloudly.
“Whydon’tyougetdownandwalkover?”heshouted,ashepassedEdwardandtookthejump.
“I’lleithergetoverorbreakmyneck,”saidEdward,settinghisteeth.
Buthedidneither.Hesettheroanatthejumpforthefourthtime,hittinghimwithhiscropthebeastrose,andthenlettingthefore-legswing,camedownwithacrash.
Edwardfellheavil