We left the house and in the stable saddled two horses, strong, quiet beasts.

We were in desert mountains, covered with tough, stringy plants and quick, quiet beasts.

The ponies are very fit but inclined to be troublesome: the quiet beasts develop tricks without rhyme or reason.

On the whole they are fairly quiet beasts, but they get restive with their loads, mainly but indirectly owing to the smoothness of the ice.