So, though I thought and thought, I could see no way of dividing that rein; the idea of raising it to my teeth being dismissed as an impossibility, as also of Sandho cutting it with his own powerful nip, for I knew the idea of communicating my desire to the horse was absurd.

"How to manage?
How to manage ?" I kept on saying to myself.

The idea would not come; and as it grew darker our canter gave place to a round trot, and soon after we steadied down to a walk.
Suppose I suddenly made Sandho rear up?
That would be easy, for I could make him rise on his hind-legs and fight with his fore.

But what good would that do?
No more than making him kick violently in all directions, as he turned his fore-feet into a pivot upon which he turned, bringing his heels round to all points of the compass, and delivering smashing blows with them.

Splendid practice this when a litter of half-grown lions were trying to pull him down, but now not likely to do more than bring down punishment upon the poor beast.
Again and again I made up my mind to make him give a sudden bound; but the chances were that it would not snap the rein, only cruelly drag the poor fellow's mouth.