spoke up
quickly, saying: "The gentleman shall be accommodated. I always have an
extra saddle with me; he shall have that," and gave his servant
directions to go and bring the saddle and bridle. When they were brought,
Sedgwick looked at them, said they would answer admirably, and throwing
the trappings over his left arm, went up to the snorting horse, petted
and soothed him, rubbed his nose, and talked low to him a moment; then
slipped the bridle on, then gently pushed the saddle and trappings over
his back; made all secure, and then, without assistance, mounted him
talking softly to him all the time.

The horse made a few bounds, but quickly subsided. They were enough,
however, to show the onlookers that the man on the horse was sufficient
for the task he had undertaken. Riding back, Sedgwick dismounted, still
talking low to the horse and patting his neck, for, as he explained, "The
colt has a lovely, honest face and head; he is only timid, and does not
yet quite understand what is wanted of him, or whether it will do for him
to give us his entire confidence."

The officer who had sent for the saddle had watched everything; so when
Sedgwick dismounted he held out his hand and said, heartily: "I beg your
pardon, Mr. Sedgwick, I was mistaken in you. You do more than ride. When
mounted, you and the horse together make a centaur."

With a celestial smile, Miss Jenvie said: "I beg your pardon, Mr.
Sedgwick. Mr. Jordan is not needed, except as a pleasant addition to our
company."

They all mounted and rode away. It was a jolly party. Grace and Rose rode
with two of the officers; two of the officers' wives were escorted by
Sedgwick and Browning.

As they rode, Sedgwick kept patting his horse, and in a little while so
won his confidence that he was able to rub his whip all about his head.

They stopped at a roadside inn for luncheon, and returned in the cool of
the afternoon.

By this time Sedgwick's horse had apparently given his rider his full
faith, and Sedgwick, in sharp contrast with the other gentlemen, sat him
in true cowboy style. They were riding at a brisk pace, when the hat of
one of the ladies was caught in a flurry of wind and carried twenty or
thirty yards to the rear. The others began to pull in their horses, when
Sedgwick, like a flash, whirled his horse about, and, calling to him, the
horse sprang forward at full speed. All turned, and the ladies screamed,
as they thought Sedgwick was falling. He had