Now then," he cried, "come along and I'll give you a leg up."

"But you've taken the saddle off."

"Of course I have. I'm going to teach you how to ride."

"Without a saddle or stirrups?"

"Of course. A man wants to feel at home on a horses, so does a boy.
Now then, I'll give you a leg up."

I was like wax in his hands. On lifting one leg as he bade me, the next
moment I was sent flying, to come down on the horse's back astride, but
so much over to the right that I had to fling myself forward and clutch
the mane.

"Bravo! Well done!" cried Lomax sarcastically.

"I'm all right now," I cried.

"All right! Here, come down, sir. Do you know what would have happened
if that had been some horses?"

"No," I said, dismounting clumsily.

"Well, then, I'll tell you. They'd either have sent you flying over
their heads, or bolted."

"I'm very sorry," I faltered.

"Sorry! I should think you are. Got up like a tailor, sir, and you've
come down like one. Bah! It's horrible."

"Well, but you've got to teach me better," I cried.

"True. Good lad. So I have. Now then, give me your leg. That's it.
Steady. Up you go."

"That's better," I cried, settling myself into my place.

"Better! No, it isn't. It's not so bad only, sir. Now, then, sit up
so that a line dropped from your temple would go down by your heel.
Better. Get your fork well open."

"What?"

"Sit close down on the horse's back, then. No, no, you don't want to
scratch your ear."

"Well, I know, that," I said, laughing.

"Then what did you cock up your knee that way for? Let your legs hang
down. That's better. Toes up and heels well down."

"What for, Lomax?"

"Don't ask questions. Do as I tell you. Well, there you're right.
Toes up so that they just rest in the stirrups."

"But I haven't got any stirrups."

"Then act as if you had."

"But why don't you let me have some?"

"Silence in the ranks, sir. Now then, keep your balance. Advance at a
walk."

The horse started.

"Halt!" shouted Lomax, and the horse pulled up so short that I went
forward.

"What are you doing, sir? You don't want to look into the horse's
ears."

"I wasn't trying to," I said sharply.

"What were you going to do, then?--whisper to him to stop?"

"I say, don't tease me, Lom," I said appealingly; "you know I couldn't
help it."

"Right, my lad, I know. But 'tention; this won't do. I've got to teach
you to ride with a good military seat,