might detect his blood at a glance, even as you did that of his rider.
The beast was large, high, broad-chested, sleek of skin, wiry of limb,
with no excess of fat, and no straggling hair; small ears, a glorious
mane, and a great lively eye. At once docile and full of life, he trod
the earth with the firm pace of an elephant, yet with the ease of an
antelope; moving carelessly as in pastime, and as if he bore no sort of
burden on his back. For that matter he might well do so. His rider,
though well developed, was too slight to be felt by such a creature--and
a small portmanteau carried all his wardrobe. Beyond this he had no
_impedimenta_; and to those accustomed only to the modes of travel in a
more settled and civilized country--with bag and baggage--the traveller
might have appeared--but for a pair of moderately-sized twisted barrels
which we see pocketed on the saddle--rather as a gentleman of leisure
taking his morning ride, than one already far from home and increasing
at every step the distance between it and himself. From our privilege we
make bold to mention, that, strictly proportioned to their capacities,
the last named appurtenances carried each a charge which might have
rendered awkward any interruption; and it may not be saying too much if
we add, that it is not improbable to this portion of his equipage our
traveller was indebted for that security which had heretofore obviated
all necessity for their use. They were essentials which might or might
not, in that wild region, have been put in requisition; and the prudence
of all experience, in our border country, is seldom found to neglect
such companionship.

So much for the personal appearance and the equipment of our young
traveller. We have followed the usage among novelists, and have dwelt
thus long upon these details, as we design that our adventurer shall
occupy no small portion of the reader's attention. He will have much to
do and to endure in the progress of this narrative.