The poor horse paid for the delay, which could not be laid to his charge.

Mowbray struck him hard with his spurs so soon as he was in his seat--the noble animal reared, bolted, and sprung forward like a deer, over stock and stone, the nearest road--and we are aware it was a rough one--to Shaws-Castle.

There is a sort of instinct by which horses perceive the humour of their riders, and are furious and impetuous, or dull and sluggish, as if to correspond with it; and Mowbray's gallant steed seemed on this occasion to feel all the stings of his master's internal ferment, although not again urged with the spur.

The ostler stood listening to the clash of the hoofs, succeeding each other in thick and close gallop, until they died away in the distant woodland.
"If St.Ronan's reach home this night, with his neck unbroken," muttered the fellow, "the devil must have it in keeping." "Mercy on us!" said the traveller, "he rides like a Bedouin Arab! but in the desert there are neither trees to cross the road, nor cleughs, nor linns, nor floods, nor fords.

Well, I must set to work myself, or this gear will get worse than even I can mend .-- Here you, ostler, let me have your best pair of horses instantly to Shaws-Castle." "To Shaws-Castle, sir ?" said the man, with some surprise.
"Yes--do you not know such a place ?" "In troth, sir, sae few company go there, except on the great ball day, that we have had time to forget the road to it--but St.Ronan's was here even now, sir." "Ay, what of that ?--he has ridden on to get supper ready--so, turn out without loss of time." "At your pleasure, sir," said the fellow, and called to the postilion accordingly..