It must have been a powerful blow; but half the credit--or the blame of it (which you please) must be attributed to the whip, which was garnished with a massive horse's head of plated metal.
The grass, being sodden with rain, afforded the young gentleman a rather inhospitable couch; his clothes were considerably bemired; and his hat was rolling in the mud on the other side of the road.

But his thoughts seemed chiefly bent upon his pony, on which he was wistfully gazing--half in helpless anxiety, and half in hopeless abandonment to his fate.
I dismounted, however, and having fastened my own animal to the nearest tree, first picked up his hat, intending to clap it on his head; but either he considered his head unfit for a hat, or the hat, in its present condition, unfit for his head; for shrinking away the one, he took the other from my hand, and scornfully cast it aside.
'It's good enough for you,' I muttered.
My next good office was to catch his pony and bring it to him, which was soon accomplished; for the beast was quiet enough in the main, and only winced and flirted a trifle till I got hold of the bridle--but then, I must see him in the saddle.
'Here, you fellow--scoundrel--dog--give me your hand, and I'll help you to mount.' No; he turned from me in disgust.

I attempted to take him by the arm.
He shrank away as if there had been contamination in my touch.
'What, you won't! Well! you may sit there till doomsday, for what I care.

But I suppose you don't want to lose all the blood in your body--I'll just condescend to bind that up for you.' 'Let me alone, if you please.' 'Humph; with all my heart.

You may go to the d--l, if you choose--and say I sent you.' But before I abandoned him to his fate I flung his pony's bridle over a stake in the hedge, and threw him my handkerchief, as his own was now saturated with blood.