’Thenyouareallright，master；there’snofear。Trusthimfornothurtingayounggentleman，anofficer’sson，whocan’tride。
Ifyouwereablackguarddragoon，indeed，withlongspurs，’twereanotherthing；asitis，he’lltreatyouasifheweretheelderbrotherthatlovesyou。Ride!He’llsoonteachyoutorideifyouleavethematterwithhim。He’sthebestriding-masterinallIreland，andthegentlest。’
Thecobwasledforth；whatatremendouscreature!Ihadfrequentlyseenhimbefore，andwonderedathim；hewasbarelyfifteenhands，buthehadthegirthofametropolitandray-horse；
hisheadwassmallincomparisonwithhisimmenseneck，whichcurveddownnoblytohiswideback：hischestwasbroadandfine，andhisshouldersmodelsofsymmetryandstrength；hestoodwellandpowerfullyuponhislegs，whichweresomewhatshort。Inaword，hewasagallantspecimenofthegenuineIrishcob，aspeciesatonetimenotuncommon，butatthepresentdaynearlyextinct。
’There!’saidthegroom，ashelookedathim，halfadmiringly，halfsorrowfully，’withsixteenstoneonhisback，he’lltrotfourteenmilesinonehour，withyourninestone，sometwoandahalfmoreay，andclearasix-footwallattheendofit。’