e would not allow a man
to ride him. He was so high strung, and so fractiously opposed to any
one getting upon his back, that Mrs. Washington had forbidden any one on
the farm attempting the feat.

George had two or three young friends visiting him, and they were
admiring the antics of the colt in the meadow in front of the house.

"I should like to ride him," remarked George.

"Ride him!" exclaimed one of the number. "I thought nobody could ride
him. That is what I have heard."

"Well, I should like to try," continued George. "If I could once get
upon his back, I would run the risk anyway. He would prance some, I
guess."

"I should like to see you try, George," remarked another of his friends
present. "You can ride him if any one can. But how do you know that you
can't ride him? Have you ever tried?"

"No."

"Did any one ever try?"

"I believe Jake has; or, at least, he has tried to get on his back."

"If I were in your place I would see whether I could ride him or not,"
suggested his friend. "What's the harm?"

"Mother would not allow it," answered George; "She would expect to see
my brains beat out if I should attempt it."

"But your mother would like it if you succeeded in riding him," rejoined
his friend, by way of inducing him to make the attempt.

"I have no doubt she would; but if I should break my neck, instead of
the colt, she would not be glad at all."

"Of course not; but I don't see any particular need of breaking your
neck or limbs by making the attempt; and it would be a feather in your
cap to manage the colt. Suppose we try;" and this proposition was made
by George's companion in good faith.

"I have no fears for myself," answered George; "there is no danger in
trying to get upon his back that I see, and once there, I will risk
being thrown."

"That is so," continued his friend, "and suppose we try it some day."

After some more discussion upon the subject, George agreed to make the
attempt to mount the colt early the following morning, and his young
friend seconded his decision heartily.

The next morning, a full hour before breakfast-time, the boys were out,
eager to participate in the sport of conquering a wild colt. The colt
appeared to snuff trouble, for he was unusually gay and crank that
morning. His head and tail were up, as he went prancing around the
field, when the boys put in their appearance.

"Drive him into a corner!" exclaimed George.

"Drive the wind into a corne