over a few yards from the sergeant, who ran up, the horse once more
stopping short by my side.

"Bravo!" cried Lomax, as I sat up. "You're getting on."

"I thought I was getting off," I said dolefully.

"Rubbish, sir; improving fast. Here, up with you again. It's all
strange to you at first, but you've got to grow to that horse's back,
till it's like one animal--horse and man. You've got to learn to grip
him till you feel as if you can't tumble off."

"But I never shall," I cried.

"Don't tell me. I'll make you. Now then; there you are. Now you just
trot down to the bottom and back without coming off like a sack of
shavings. Never mind the reins. Let him have his head, and you put all
your sperrit into your knees. Keep your position and preserve your
balance."

"I know I shall fall again soon."

"Very well, then, fall. But I don't believe you will. Now then, once
more."

He gave the order, the horse walked a few steps, then at the second
order broke into a trot, and, to my utter astonishment, as I drove my
knees into the warm soft sides, away we went, wheeled to the right, then
to the right again, and trotted back to the sergeant, who shouted,--

"Halt! Bravo! There, what did I say? Make much of your horse."

The lesson was kept on for fully two hours, and then, to make up, I
suppose, for a good deal of bullying, my instructor was loud in his
praise, and, opening the gate after replacing the saddle, he signed to
me to mount, but I tried and could not, for my legs felt stiff and
stretched, my back ached, and there was a peculiar sensation of soreness
about the knees.

"Shall I trot him back?" said Lomax.

"If you would, please," I said. "I do feel so stiff."

"I will, my lad. To-morrow morning same time; and I'll get some of that
stiffness out of you."

"Thank you," I said rather dolefully; and then I could not help watching
the old dragoon with a feeling of envy as he placed one foot in the
stirrup, drew himself up till he stood upright, then deliberately threw
the right leg over the horse's back, slowly dropped into his place as
upright as a dart, and trotted steadily out into the road and away out
of sight, while, after closing the gate, I began to retrace my steps in
the direction of the school, just as the boys came trooping out for
their regular run till the room was ventilated, and the cloth laid for
dinner.

"Oh, I say, it's rank favouritism!" came from the middle of a group.