l uneasily.

"Bad--very bad," cried the doctor, laughing. "I said throw your leg
over. You tried to throw yourself over. Never mind; you'll soon learn.
Look at me. One moment: take your gun."

Nic took the gun handed to him, and was shown how to carry it across his
rein arm, and then he enviously watched his father take hold of a wisp
of the horse's mane, place a foot in the stirrup, and lightly swing
himself into the saddle, while his horse hung toward him a little,
otherwise remained perfectly still.

"You'll soon do it, Nic. Legs feel stiff?"

"A bit cramped," replied the boy.

"Forward, then, at a walk. I shall not hold your rein now. Your nag
will not leave his companion."

"Hadn't you better, father, till I get more used to it?" asked Nic
uneasily.

"No," said the doctor decisively. "It was quite right this morning over
your first lesson. You have learned a little already, and I don't want
you, as it were, to learn to swim with corks. Come along. Steady, lad,
steady."

This was to Nic's steed, which began to amble, keeping up a nice gentle
motion, which would have been very pleasant if the boy had not felt a
bit nervous. But as it found its stable companion continued to pace,
Sour Sorrel followed its example and dropped into a walk.

The waggon was already a quarter of a mile onward, and the dogs were
hanging back watching them, barking furiously till they were overtaken,
and having a few encouraging words delivered to them as father and son
rode on.

"I should like to set them free," said the doctor, "but I dare not yet."

The afternoon ride was almost a repetition of that in the morning, and
from time to time they passed water-holes, showing that they were
keeping along the course of the river, though it was not until it was
pointed out to him that Nic knew he was for some distance travelling
along the dry bed and was crossing it, the depression seeming little
different from the surrounding country.

Weariness had something to do with it, for to Nic the country did not
seem so beautiful as in the morning. He had been many hours in the
saddle, and though the pace had only been a walk, the unaccustomed
position told upon his muscles, and, in spite of a hint or two from his
father, the boy's attitude was far from upright. He had ceased, too,
for some time to keep a keen look-out for birds and kangaroos. Earlier
in the afternoon he had seen some reddish, dun-coloured animals in the
dis