"THAT YOUNG CHAP'S ALL THERE!"
Captain Hulton was all the time watching what was going on by the Arab,
where the slight youth, full of eagerness and activity, had nearly
covered his hands with foam as he loosened the tight curb-chain, which
evidently worried the horse, and was nearly bitten for his pains.
Then, as he stood wiping his fingers on his handkerchief, he made one of
the syces shorten the stirrups to a considerable extent.
"You are going to risk it, then?" said Wyatt.
"I don't think there is any risk," said Dick.
"You are as blind as you are obstinate, my lad," said Wyatt. "I tell
you it is a terrible risk; give it up."
"It wouldn't be acting like a soldier," replied the lad earnestly. "The
men are all looking on, and even if I felt afraid I shouldn't dare to
back out. But I don't feel a bit afraid; and who wouldn't long to ride
a horse like this?"
"I wouldn't, for one," said Wyatt. "Well, good luck to you, then, my
lad; but mind, for the brute's as full of tricks as a monkey."
"I'll mind, but I wish I'd a whip instead of these spurs. That will
do!" he cried sharply to the syce, who had finished altering the last
buckle.--"Now, then, old fellow," he cried, going to the Arab's head and
taking hold of the snaffle on either side, "it's of no use; I'm going to
ride you, so none of your tricks."
The horse whinnied and threw up its muzzle as the lad resigned it to the
groom. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he took up the
snaffle-rein, seized his opportunity when the off-side groom made the
horse sidle towards him, thrust his foot in the stirrup, and heard Wyatt
utter a kind of gasp as he sprang into the saddle, while the syces
darted back to avoid the coming plunge.
Every eye was fixed upon the group, and the gunner who had been thrown
smiled grimly at the sergeant, as much as to say, "Wait a minute and
you'll see."
The horse uttered an angry squeal as he felt himself once more backed by
a stranger, and then gave himself a tremendous shake as if to dislodge
saddle and rider by bursting off the girths; but, finding this of no
avail, he reared up till it seemed as if he must go over backward, and
repeated the action again and again. But Dick sat fast, and gave and
bent as if he were, as the sergeant said, a portion of his horse.
"Bravo! Well done!" muttered the captain. "By George! Wyatt, the boy
can ride."
"Ride!" whispered the lieutenant in husky tones. "Look at that."
For the horse, disappointed at the failure of its efforts, began once
more to bound off the earth; but there was no better result, the young
rider bending and giving like a cane, but always sitting slightly bent
forward as the beautiful creature made another of its graceful bounds.
"Well, I'm blest!" muttered the sergeant.
"He'll begin to buck directly," whispered the gunner who was using one
hand to softly rub his back.
But this did not follow till a few more bounds had been made: and then
it was after two or three angry squeals, the animal's back being arched,
head and tail down, and feet drawn together for the necessary springs,
each coming more quickly after the last, while every one who watched
felt to a certainty that the rider must be thrown at the next leap, and
the gunner wondered that the lad had not come off at the last.
But Dick's mettle was roused; and, in spite of being nearly dislodged,
he gripped the saddle fast and gave with his steed's muscular efforts,
getting fast again in his seat before the next effort.
Ten or a dozen of these mad leaps were made, the horse squealing
fiercely as he bucked; but Dick was still in his seat when the Arab
tossed up his head again, swerved to his right, and, laying himself out
like a greyhound, went off at speed along the parade-ground for the
opening at the end, and with his rider sitting well down to this
comparatively easy work, disappeared like a flash.
"After him, Wyatt!" cried the captain. "Poor lad! I ought not to have
let him mount.--You, too, Sergeant,--Follow them, Smith."
The three set spurs to their horses in the same order as their names
were uttered, and went off in single file in full pursuit, while a
thrill ran along the ranks of the artillery-men, who had to hold in
their horses, which participated in their riders' desire to join in the
chase.
The road ran straight away from the gateway for about a mile, and then
turned off at right angles to where a bridge crossed the river; and Dick
soon saw that if his swift steed tried to turn and make for the bridge,
going at such a racing speed, they must for certain have a mishap. He
was quite cool now, felt easy in his saddle, and knew that he could keep
there no matter how the pace was increased. It was wildly exhilarating,
and he had to repress the desire to urge the horse on and on. He looked
back, and far behind he could see the dust flying in a cloud where
evidently some one was coming in pursuit; but it was only a momentary
glance, and then he was looking straight ahead so as to make out his
course.
This was soon done. He had only to make the horse swerve a little to
his right and there was the open country, where a long stretch of
closely-cut grassland parallel with the river offered good going, and
over which the horse might gallop till he could pull him in.
But to reach that land there was a broad dike to cross; and if, going at
such a speed, the horse failed to clear it down they must come.
There was no time for thought. The great dike had to be cleared, and
not many seconds later they were flying through the air, to land on the
opposite side; and the horse uttered a tremendous snort as he stretched
out more, and made the wind whistle by the rider's ears as he tore on
faster still.
"This doesn't seem like mastering him," thought Dick, "for he has
mastered me; but I said I could ride him, and I can. I wish I knew the
country so that I could make a round and take him back regularly done."
He bore gently on the rein, increasing the pull by degrees; but the
horse's head was stretched straight out now, and, when it came to the
hardest drag upon the reins, it had very little effect upon the swift
creature, who tore along as fast as ever.
"Have your own way, then," said Dick quietly; and thoroughly enjoying
the pace now, he contented himself with trying to guide his mount and
avoid doubtful-looking places and jumps that were too exciting, finding,
to his great delight, that the horse was amenable to the lightest touch
in this direction; while, when they had raced on for about a couple of
miles, he began to slacken of his own accord.
A few minutes later the horse was fully under control, yielding to every
touch, and stopped short, turned, and began to canter gently back till
the little party in pursuit was sighted, when, apparently tamed for the
day by the run, he suffered the fine charger Wyatt rode to range up
alongside, and took no heed whatever of the two which fell into rank
behind.
"My dear boy," cried Wyatt hoarsely, "I've been expecting to come upon
all that was left of you every minute since the brute bolted."
"Have you?" said Dick, looking at him curiously. "It was nothing; one
only had to sit fast."
"Nothing? Well, perhaps you're right, but you gave us a tremendous
scare."
"I'm sorry," replied Dick. "But I hope you won't have the horse sent
away. I'll buy him if the price isn't too much."
"We shall be glad to let him go cheaply, but you'll never dare to ride
him."
"Why not? I dared to ride him when he was quite strange to me; and, of
course, when he knows and is used to me it will be quite a different
thing. He only wants plenty of work and proper using.--Don't you, old
fellow?" he cried, leaning forward to pat the beautiful, arched
neck.--"Look, Mr Wyatt: I'm hardly feeling his mouth, and he's as quiet
again."
"But the brute has such a temper."
"Don't call him names!" cried Dick merrily; and, turning, he rested his
hand upon his saddle, to call back to the old non-commissioned officer
behind, "I say, Sergeant, don't you think I've got on well with my
riding after only one lesson!"
"You managed him wonderfully, sir!" cried the sergeant; "but I can't
have you riding in the troop like that. You looked like a jockey at a
race, with his shoulders right up to his ears."
"That's complimentary," cried Dick. "Never mind; you shall teach me to
ride with my shoulders down.--I say, you," he continued to the gunner;
"I hope you are not much hurt!"
"Forgot all about it, sir. Had something else to think about."
"Why, the horse seems to like you on his back," said Wyatt after they
had been cantering steadily enough for a time.
"I hope he does," said Dick. "I like to be there."
"Walk!" shouted Wyatt, and the four horses dropped into the quiet pace
at once, being kept to it till they came in sight of the great gateway,
outside which a vedette was stationed ready to turn their horses and
pass in.
"Gone to report our coming. They won't need to send an ambulance, my
lad," said Wyatt. "Look here, Darrell, you've done something to-day,
and I want Hulton to see what you can do. You ride on two lengths
ahead, and go in first at a walk."
"No, no; it will look so foolish."
"Obey orders!" cried Wyatt sternly. Then, changing his tone from the
military to the friendly, "It may mean the keeping of the Arab for you
if Hulton sees that you really can manage him." Then aloud, "Forward.
Trot."
Dick had gone on to the front, and at the word the horses increased
their pace.
"Give him a word or two, Stubbs," said Wyatt, reining in a little so
that the sergeant and gunner could come up level; and the sergeant
shouted:
"Don't bump your saddle, Mr Darrell. Elbows back, sir; heels down;
drop your right hand, and ride with the horse."
Dick stiffened himself directly, and rode in through the gateway in
regular military style, falling into it naturally, but flushing
uncomfortably as he saw at a glance that the troop was drawn up as he
had left it, and the captain, with the trumpeter behind, sat motionless
on his horse.
Dick rode on straight for his commanding officer, the Arab going over
the ground as if he hardly touched it with his hoofs; and the next
moment discipline was forgotten, every man on the parade-ground bursting
forth into a tremendous cheer which nearly drowned Wyatt's loud "Halt!"
The next moment Hulton had ridden up to the young subaltern's side.
"I congratulate you, Mr Darrell," he said quietly. "I suppose you
would like to keep your mount?"
"Oh, yes, sir," said Dick eagerly.
"You had your riding-lesson this morning?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you seem to have given us one since. Believe me, I am very glad
you are not hurt. Give the horse up to the syces now."
He made a sign, and the two white-clothed grooms hurried up, showing
their teeth and glancing admiringly at one who was evidently about to be
their new sahib.
But they were not alone, for unconsciously the lad had made himself the
hero of the hour, gunners and drivers to a man subscribing to the dictum
that a youngster who could ride Morrison's horse like that was made of
the right stuff for the troop.
"Yes," grunted the oldest corporal, who was considered a judge; "he
isn't much more than a schoolboy, but that young chap's up to the mark."