its mother must have been a gazelle, and from these
round parts and iron that its father must have been a
reaping-hook.”
A moment’s stare while trying to realize whether this
could be the truth or not, and out they burst in a hearty
laugh, for the Moors do enjoy a joke, and this
Breeffin was one sPec‘a% appealed to them,
so to every new-comer it was repeated as fact
in most solemn tones. Others, taking up the idea, would
ask particulars as to its feed, and whether it kicked, or
had any evil habits.
WONDERING ON-LOOKERS.
Photograph by Dr, Rudduck.
“ Stand away from his heels th e re !”
“ Hold his head, Mohammed, and see that his girths
are tight 1”
“ Whew, what a stirrup! Why, they’re not the same
length! Pull them tight? Now then, the Nazarene’s
mounting— clear aw a y l”
Then all would set off to race us, girding up their
loins and promising great things.
“ Wait a bit, though! It’s not a fair start!”
But we were clear of a crowd to which we had no
desire to return, and, as far as the ground would allow,
forged ahead. Sometimes we offered fabulous prizes to
any who might outstrip us, riding sedately a safe
alongside of some old farmer, whom we tempted challenge.
to spur on his mare till both panted, while
we coolly spurted ahead with “ good morning 1
Whenever we overtook such riders, we had to yell
our warnings, for our bells were not understood, and
on several occasions, in spite of precautions, caused such
alarm to fellow-travellers that they and their mounts
parted company, one dashing over the plain, the other
picking himself up to see what had happened.
Once I met an old man whose donkey so suddenly
shied at the apparition that in a moment he found himself
seated where there was no fear of falling. Amusing
I really felt sorry, but,was hesitating whether
I should stop to be abused or not, when, looking
backward, my machine ran into a tuft of grass and
seated me likewise, to the unbounded delight of a party
of natives, while the old man and I looked at each other
solemnly.
Another time, while riding across the market at Tangier,
a Moor who tried to get out of my way, as women
do even in England, b y running right across my track,
tripped over his cloak at the critical moment, whereupon
I landed head foremost into the soft heap he provided,
but before he could collect his brains or his limbs
I was mounted, and the crowd enjoyed his discomfiture
richly, for neither of us was damaged.
On no occasion did we suffer rudeness or interference
at the hands of the Moors, notwithstanding the prognostications
of our friends, though their in- Bchaviour of
quisitivCness often proved amusing. Some- Natives.
times, if they could get near, they would
turn the nut of the tyre valve, or threaten to try Our
“ Dunlops ” with their daggers, assured that if not pork