But, the neck of an ox is equal in strength to iron.

It defies all ordinary burdens, when excited.

Tame and docile to a proverb, when _well_ trained, the ox is the most sullen and intractable of animals when but half broken to the yoke.
I now saw, in my situation, several points of similarity with that of the oxen.

They were property, so was I; they were to be{165} broken, so was I.Covey was to break me, I was to break them; break and be broken--such is life.
Half the day already gone, and my face not yet homeward! It required only two day's experience and observation to teach me, that such apparent waste of time would not be lightly overlooked by Covey.

I therefore hurried toward home; but, on reaching the lane gate, I met with the crowning disaster for the day.