Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-07
The Tanning of "Pommers," the Greet Yellow Horse,
By Young Nigel

right in Great Britain All rights fe1erved.)
the sapling grove and was out on the
broad stretch of Hankley Down.
And now came such a ride as still
fingers in the gossip of the lowly country
folk and forms the rude jingle of that
old Surrey ballad, now nearly forgotten,
save for the refrain:
The Doe that sped on Hinde Head,
The Kestril on the winde,
= And Nigel on the Yellow Horse
Can leave the world behinde.
Before them lay rolling ocean of
dark heather, knee-deep, swelling in bill
low on billOw up to the clear-cut hill
before them. Above stretched one I'M
broken arch of peaceful blue, with sun
which was sinking down toward the
heather, down the gullies, over the water
courses. up the broken slopes, Pommers
flew, his great heart bursting with rage,
and every fiber quivering at the indlgnl-
ties which he had endured.
And still, do what he would. the man
chung fast to his heaving sides and to
his flying name, silent. motionless. mex
orable, letting him do wat he would,
but fixed as Fate upon his purpose.
Over Hankley Down, through Thursley
Marsh, with the reeds up to his mud
splashed withers, onward up the long
slope of the Headland of the Kinds.
down by the Nutcombe Gorge, slipping,
laundering, bounding, but never slacken-
ing his fearful speed, on went the great
yellow horse. The villagers of Shotter-
mill heard the wild clatter of hoofs, but
er. they could swing the ox-hide curtains
of their cottage doors horse and rider
was lost amid the high bracken OF the
Haslemere Valley. On he went, and on,
tossing the miles behind his flying hoofs.
No marsh land could clog -hiul,- no. hl4
could hold him back. Up the slope OF
Linchmere and the long ascent of Fern
hurst he Numbered as on the level. and
1t was not until he had flown down the
incline of Henley Hill and the gray castle
tower of Midhurst rose over the coppice
in front. that at last the eager out
stretched neck sank a little on the breast,
and the breath came quick and fast
Look where he would in woodland and
on down, his strainng eyes could catch
no sign Of those plains of freedom which
he sought.
And yet another outrage! 1t was bad
that this creature should still cling SO
tight upon his back, but now he would
even go to the intolerable length of check
ing him and guiding him on the way that
he would have him go. There was a
sharp pluck at his mouth, and his head
was turned north once more. AS well
go that way as another; but the man was
mad indeed if he thought that such a
horse as Pommers was at the end of his
spirit or his strength. He would soon
show him that he was unconquered. if
it strained his sinews or broke his heart
to do so. Back then he flew up the
long, long ascent. Would he ever get
to the end of it? Yet he would not own
that he could go no farther while the
man still kept his grip. He was white
with foam and caked with mud. His eyes
were gorged with blood. his mouth open
and gasping. his nostrils expanded, his
coat stark and reeking. On he flew down
the long Sunday Hill until he reached
the deep Kingsley Marsh at the bottom.
No, it was too much! Flesh and blood
could go no farther. AS he struggled
out from the reedy slime with the heavy