els, and the
next moment Nic was bumping about in the saddle, slipping first a little
to one side, then to the other, making attempts to get over on to the
horse's neck, and having hard work to keep his gun well across his
knees.

It was hot, breathless work; and moment by moment Nic told himself that
he must come off; but he did not, and went on bump, bump, bump, bump,
conscious that his father was watching him from the corners of his eyes.

"I do wish he'd stop," thought Nic, as the nag trotted steadily on; and
then the boy thought of the Kentish common and the games they had had
with the donkeys--when, almost as soon as a boy was mounted, another
came to tickle the donkey's tail with a piece of furze, with the result
that the animal's head went down, its heels up, and the rider off on to
his back, perhaps into a furze or bramble patch.

"But there's no one behind with a furze or bramble," thought Nic, who
began to find the trot not so very bad, when, to his horror, his father
cried out "Canter!" and, with the horses snorting and enjoying the
motion, away they went in and out among the trees, the docile animals
keeping pace together, and avoiding the dense parts by instinct.

"Now I am off," said Nic to himself; but to his surprise he kept on,
finding the canter a delightfully easy pace, and that it was far less
difficult to keep his seat in the saddle, the swing was so pleasant,
elastic, and rhythmical.

This went on for a good quarter of a mile, until the trees grew more
open and patches of scrubby bushes appeared in their way, when, before
he knew it, Nic's steed, instead of avoiding a clump about three feet
high, rose at it, bounded over as lightly as a kangaroo, and came to a
dead stop on the other side, for it had lost its rider.

"I didn't mean that," said the doctor, pulling up and turning back.

"Here, Nic, where are you?"

"Here, father," said the boy dolefully, as he rose from where he lay--
down among the thick brush.

"Hurt?"

"I--I don't know yet. No; I don't think so, father. Here, my gun's
gone."

"There it is, sticking up among the bushes. I'll get it," said the
doctor; and pulling his horse sidewise, he reached over and drew out the
gun.

"Now then, where are you hurt?"

"Nowhere," said Nic, forcing his way out to where the nag stood, taking
the reins, and after pulling down the near side stirrup, climbing into
the saddle.

At that moment there was a clapping of hands, and he tu