sufficiently to make him understand what you want. Well,
why are you making a face like that?"

"I shall never learn all this," cried Nic; "I'm too stupid."

"And you have ground away at algebra and Euclid! What nonsense! Come,
be more ready to take a right view of things. Horses are extremely
intelligent animals, and love their masters if properly treated. They
are wilful at times, and then have to be punished; but I never strike or
spur my horse without good reason. Now look here, Nic: this is not to
show off, but to let you see what can be done with the animal, which is
one of man's most valuable friends out in these wilds. Now watch!"

The doctor threw the reins on the horse's neck.

"I want to go to the left."

To Nic's astonishment the horse bore away to the left, and his own
followed suit.

"Now I want to go to the right." The horse turned in that direction.

"Now I want to turn right round."

The horse turned right about.

"Now straight back."

The horses began to return upon their tracks, Nic's eyes following every
motion.

"Now round again, and forward."

Once more the horse, turning right about, went straight forward, Sour
Sorrel taking pace for pace.

"Why, it's wonderful, father!" cried Nic. "Australian horses must
understand plain English."

"Well, they are English bred," said the doctor, laughing. "Twenty years
ago there was not a horse in the country. But now, tell me, why did you
check your horse?"

"To get down so as to shoot."

"Nonsense! Fire from his back when I tell you."

"But it will frighten him, and he'll gallop off, and I shall be sure to
fall."

"It will not frighten him, for the horse will stand like a rock, knowing
when you are going to fire. You can rest your gun between his ears if
you like, only you could not get so steady an aim. It's quite true.
That nag is beautifully broken. I reared him from a foal and trained
him expressly for you."

"Thank you, father; but I think I would rather ride yours."

"Why?"

"He seems so much better trained."

"Not so well, boy."

"But tell me: how did you make him go any way you wished?"

"The simplest way in the world. Let your reins drop on his neck."

Nic obeyed.

"Now press the side with your right leg. That's right. Now with the
left. Good. Now keep on with the pressure, and the nag will turn right
round. Now press both legs together. Very well indeed. Now you see
there is no magic in the ma