t'd the Boss say?" Then turning toward Monty, valiantly
struggling with this new business, he inquired in real kindness: "Want
me to lend a hand, youngster?"

Poor Monty would have given many "quarters" to say "yes." But he was too
plucky. His face was streaming with perspiration, he had worried the
chestnut, Juan, till the creature threatened to kick, and he ached from
head to foot. But he had glanced across to that open space where four
girls were making a frolic of this "horrible mess" and manliness held
him to his duty. But he couldn't refrain from a snappy:

"No, I don't! And how long at a time does a fellow keep at it? How tell
whether a horse is groomed or isn't?"

"Ginger! Do you know when your shirt's buttoned or when it ain't? Just
look at Herbert's piece o' work an' do accordin'. But keep cool, Monty.
Don't get r'iled an' don't rile your nag. You'll do all right--you've
got the makin' of a horseman in ye!"

Thus encouraged, Montmorency Vavasour-Stark renewed his efforts, though
with less force and better judgment. There is always a right and a wrong
way to everything and the worried lad had, at last, fallen upon the
right. He "would be a horseman!" Hurray! That opinion from such a source
was worth lots!

Well, that first lesson was over at last. Seven tired youngsters
stripped off aprons and overalls and proceeded to mount the horses they
had groomed and most of them were happy. It had been worth while, after
all, to get thus familiar with the animals; and the girls, at least,
remembered that their hosts had spoken of how beneficial it would be for
their beloved son to be with such creatures as much as possible. Like
the rifle practice, it was all for Leslie and Leslie's health; and they
would have been willing enough to help this good work along, even if
they had not got all the fun out of it for themselves, which they did.

They rode "off bounds," that morning; following Captain Lem, with a
couple of trained horsemen riding at their rear. Perhaps of all the
company, Herbert and Molly were happiest. They were as much at home in
the saddle as any cowboy of them all, and their high spirits spread to
their mates, so that even they regretted the order that the leader gave:

"Right about, face! Rifle practice--nine o'clock, sharp!"

They hadn't a minute to lose; yet when the "awkward squad" repaired to
the Barracks only the four girls answered to roll call. The lads came
straggling up, later, their heads