That brought rebellion
into Dan, for now the neck yoke was cruelly twisting his
head. I saw Dan's feet emerging out of the snow, pawing
the air: he was on his back. Everything seemed convulsed.
Then Peter plunged and reared, pulling Dan half-ways up;
that motion of his released the neck yoke from the pole.
The next moment both horses were on their feet, head by
head now, but facing each other, apparently trying to
pull apart; but the martingales held. Then both jumped
clear of the cutter and the pole; and they plunged out,
to the rear, past the cutter, to solid ground.
I do not remember how I got out; but after a minute or
so I stood at their heads, holding them by the bridles.
The knees of both horses shook, their nostrils trembled;
Peter's eye looked as if he were going to bolt. We were
only a hundred yards or so from a farm. A man and a boy
came running with lanterns. I snapped the halter ropes
into the bit rings and handed the horses over to the boy
to be led to and fro at a walk so as to prevent a chill;
and I went with the man to inspect the cutter. Apparently
no damage was done beyond the snapping of the lines.
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