ll, we won't waste
time walking. You shall do that now at a trot."

"Without a sad--"

"'Tention. No talking in the ranks."

The horse didn't want to be turned, but came round quickly, almost on a
pivot, very much disturbing my equilibrium again; but by gripping
tightly with my legs I managed to hold on, and looked anxiously at
Lomax.

"Ah," he shouted, "eyes straight for the horse's ears! Now then, you
will sit firm, elbows close to your sides. 'Tention! The squadron will
advance at a walk. Forward--tr-r-r-ot!"

The horse had only walked a few paces when the second order came, and he
broke directly into a trot, which sent me bumping up and down, now a
little inclined to the right, then more to the left, then my balance was
gone. I made a desperate effort to save myself, and then, perfectly
certain that the horse would trample me to death beneath his feet, down
I went on my back, and began to scramble up, with my mount stock still
beside me.

"Not hurt a bit!" cried Lomax, running up and handing me my cap, which
had come off.

"No," I said, beginning to feel myself all over; "I don't think anything
is broken."

"And I'm sure there isn't," cried Lomax. "Now then, I'll give you a leg
up."

"Am I to get up again--now?" I faltered.

"Without you want to say you haven't pluck enough to learn to ride."

"No," I said; "I haven't pluck enough to say that."

"Not you. Up you go. There. Now that is better. Stick on this time."

"I could if I had stirrups," I said, "and a saddle."

"No, you couldn't, sir, so don't talk nonsense. You've just learnt the
finest thing a lad who wants to ride can learn--the thing that gives him
plenty of confidence."

"What's that?" I asked; "that it's very hard to keep on?"

"No; that it's very easy to come off and roll on the ground without
hurting yourself a bit. Off you go again. Forward--trot!"

The horse snorted and went on, shaking me almost to pieces, and
sometimes I was nearly off on one side, sometimes nearly off on the
other, but I kept on.

"Right wheel!" came from the other end of the field, then, "Right
wheel!" again. "Forward!" and the horse was taking me--for I had
nothing whatever to do with him--back toward where the sergeant stood.

I kept my balance pretty well, but my trousers were running up my legs,
and I felt as if everything belonging to me was shaken up. Then once
more my balance was gone, and off I went on to my back, and over and