Now the old horse had been in several runaways.

Once it had been hurt by a falling ladder, and it had never recovered from its fear of one.

As this one fell just under it's nose, all the old fright and pain that caused its first runaway seemed to come back to its memory.

In a frenzy of terror it reared, plunged forward, then suddenly turned and dashed down the street.
The plunge and sudden turn threw the sleeping coachman from the box to the street.

With the lines dragging at its heels, the frightened horse sped on.