fair across the horseâs loins; in the impulse of self-preservation grasping the cantle with both hands. The small thigh-pads afforded a good rough hold, and the next buck jammed the poor fellow well under the seat of the saddle. The position was neither pleasant nor dignified, though certainly more secure for an amateur than the conventional style; particularly after the horseâs tremendous plunges had raised the back of the saddle a foot or more by dint of fair wedging.
Price, Mosey, Thompson, and Cooper forgot the dangers of the time, and discontinued their work, drawing near the spot with a carefully preserved air of indifference and pre-occupation. Even Dixon ignored his screwmatics, and composed his demeanour to something like apathy.
Owing to the leverage of the saddle, the girth was gripping Cleopatra in a ticklish place, and the bow of the saddle was dipping into another ticklish place, whilst Willoughbyâs swinging feet provided for the ticklish places on the horseâs thighs and flanks. Cleopatra mistook all this for deliberate provocation, and responded to the very best of his splendid ability. Early in the entertainment, Willoughbyâs hat was bucked off his head; presently the Wellington boot was bucked off one foot, and the blucher off the other, the prince-alberts following in due course. Then the portion of attire known to one section of society as âlinenâ, and to another as the âbeef-bagâ, was bucked out of that necessary garment which we shrink from naming. The ground was cut up as if rooted by pigs; yet Cleopatra was only just warming to his work; and the whaler was still clinging to the saddle like a native bear to a branch.
âGod help thee, Jack,â I remarked listlessly; âthou hast a bitter breakfast onât.â
âHeâll tire the horse out yet,â said Thompson, with an artificial yawn. âGood lad, Willoughby! stick to him a bit longer.â
âGot no holt,â observed Dixon. âGone goose, any time.â
âHe donât want no pipeclay, anyhow,â said Mosey, with childish levity. âDark-complexion people ought to steer clear oâ playful horses.â
All eyes were turned on the young fellowâs face in surprise and reprehension; and he uneasily attempted to carry off his inadvertent solecism with a sort of swagger.
âThe horse canât hold out much longer at that rate,â repeated Thompson, stooping to lace his boots.
âCanât he?â drawled Cooper, poking out the stem of his pipe with a stalk of grass. âHe can hold out till something gives way. Thatâs what heâs in the habit oâ doinâ, Iâm thinkinâ; anâ he ainât goinâ to break his rule this time.â
âThe Far-downer got at you that trip, Collins,â remarked Mosey, seeking to retrieve his dignity by turning his back on the performance. âHe seen you cominâ. Say, ole sonâhowâd you like to swap back?â
âI kepâ misdoubtinâ that hoss all the (adj.) time,â observed Nestor wisely. âI felt sort oâ jubious, onây I didnât wanter say nothink.â
âThere goes the pore (fellow) at last; I knowed the horse would do it,â said Cooper, as the stern captive spurnâd his weary load, and asked the image back that heaven bestowed.
âCollar the horse quick!â suggested Dixon. âNail him now, or youâll never ketch him.â
âNo great hurry,â I muttered, dismounting. âHowever, I think Iâd better have it out with him while heâs warm. Or perhaps one of you fellows would like a try, while I do his yokingâjust for a change?â
Cleopatra, now nibbling the scanty grass, glanced from time to time with grave sympathy at his late rider, who was occupying himself with his toilet.
âKetch the (horse) quick!â reiterated Dixon.
âI wouldnât mind if
Georgette St. Clair
Tabor Evans
Jojo Moyes
Patricia Highsmith
Bree Cariad
Claudia Mauner
Camy Tang
Hildie McQueen
Erica Stevens
Steven Carroll