-left wheel--forward!" rang in my ears.
"Are we to be made more uncomfortable than ever?" I thought; "and shall
we forget all about what old Lom taught us?"

My arms did not move, my left hand held the reins on a level with my
imaginary waist-belt, about which the sergeant talked, and my right hand
hung steadily down just by my leg, but all the time I was on guard, and
keenly on the watch for blows from those white bony hands that seemed to
be flourished before me. Then I fancied concussions and dizziness, and
felt blows, and rolled over upon the grass, but not off the horse, for
it was all fancy; and I was just seeing in my mind's eye poor Tom Mercer
going down before a heavy blow from Dicksee's fat fist, when there rang
out the word, "Halt!" and the horse stopped short.

Lomax strode up in his stiff military fashion, and patted the cob on the
neck.

"Well?" he said sharply. "What am I to say to you now?"

"I--I don't know," I faltered. "Shall we go through it again."

"No, no let the trooper breathe a bit. He has been kept at it pretty
tightly. Well, how do you feel--stiff?"

"No," I said, flushing a little, full of a feeling of regret for my
neglect in my lesson.

"Bit sore about the knees, eh?"

"Oh yes, my knees keep very sore," I faltered.

"Of course they do. Never so hard worked before. Soon get better. Let
me see, this makes just a month you've been at it, eh?"

"Yes, this is the end of the fourth week."

"Then don't you think I deserve a bit of credit?"

"Oh yes!" I cried eagerly. "You have taken great pains over me, Lom.
I wish I had not been so stupid."

"So do I," he said drily. "Saddle feel very slippery this morning?"

"Oh no, I didn't notice it," I replied.

"Didn't long for the stirrups?"

"I didn't think about them."

"Felt as if you belonged to the horse now, eh, and could let yourself go
with him?"

"Oh yes," I said.

"Well, then, all I've got to say, my boy, is, `Brayvo!' You went
through it all wonderfully this morning, and quite astonished me.
Seemed as if you and the horse were one, and you never showed the white
feather once. Why, in another two or three months your uncle shall be
proud of you."

"Then I went through my lesson well?" I said.

"Splendidly, boy, splendidly. Couldn't have done better. Now, trot the
nag down home. Stop, you shall have the stirrups."

"No, not to-day, Lomax," I said. "I've got an--an engagement to keep.
Please take him