stand at all.

"Come, now," said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby came
in sight, "why weren't you here before?"

"Mr. Lord just sent me in," said Toby, not expecting that his excuse
would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at the
height of his ambition by joining the circus.

"Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour of
your time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between us."

It would have pleased Toby very well to have had Mr. Castle go out with
his long whip just then and make trouble for Mr. Lord; but Mr. Castle
had not the time to spare, because of the trouble which he was about to
make for Toby, and that he commenced on at once.

"Well, get in here and don't waste any more time," he said, sharply.

Toby looked around curiously for a moment, and, not understanding
exactly what he was expected to get in and do, asked, "What shall I do?"

"Pull off your boots, coat, and vest."

Since there was no other course than to learn to ride, Toby wisely
concluded that the best thing he could do would be to obey his new
master without question; so he began to take off his clothes with as
much alacrity as if learning to ride was the one thing upon which he had
long set his heart.

Mr. Castle was evidently accustomed to prompt obedience, for he not only
took it as a matter of course, but endeavored to hurry Toby in the work
of undressing.

With his desire to please, and urged by Mr. Castle's words and the
ominous shaking of his whip, Toby's preparations were soon made, and
he stood before his instructor clad only in his shirt, trousers, and
stockings.

The horse was led around to where he stood, and when Mr. Castle held
out his hand to help him to mount Toby jumped up quickly without aid,
thereby making a good impression at the start as a willing lad.

"Now," said the instructor, as he pulled down the leathern belt which
hung from the rope and fastened it around Toby's waist, "stand up in
the saddle, and try to keep there. You can't fall, because the rope will
hold you up, even if the horse goes out from under you; but it isn't
hard work to keep on if you mind what you are about; and if you don't
this whip will help you. Now stand up."

Toby did as he was bid; and as the horse was led at a walk, and as
he had the long bridle to aid him in keeping his footing, he had no
difficulty in standing during the time that the horse went once around
the