Phineas again instantly jumped into his saddle, and turning Dandolo again at the ditch, rammed the rowels into the horse's sides.

But Dandolo would not jump yet.

He stood with his fore feet on the brink, and when Phineas with his whip struck him severely over the shoulders, he went down into the ditch on all fours, and then scrambled back again to his former position.

"What an infernal brute!" said Phineas, gnashing his teeth.
"He is a little obstinate, Mr.Finn; I wonder whether he'd jump if I gave him a lead." But Phineas was again making the attempt, urging the horse with spurs, whip, and voice.

He had brought himself now to that condition in which a man is utterly reckless as to falling himself,--or even to the kind of fall he may get,--if he can only force his animal to make the attempt.