Part 11 (2/2)
Willoughby--small blame to him--was jerked clean out of the saddle, and lit fair across the horse's loins; in the i the cantle with both hands The sh hold, and the next buck jammed the poor felloell 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 horse's trees had raised the back of the saddle a foot or
Price, Mosey, Thoers of the ti near the spot with a carefully preserved air of indifference and pre-occupation Even Dixon ignored his screw 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 Willoughby's swinging feet provided for the ticklish places on the horse's thighs and flanks
Cleopatra mistook all this for deliberate provocation, and responded to the very best of his splendid ability Early in the entertainhby's 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 'linen', and to another as the 'beef-bag', was bucked out of that necessary garround was cut up as if rooted by pigs; yet Cleopatra was only just war to the saddle like a native bear to a branch
”God help thee, Jack,” I remarked listlessly; ”thou hast a bitter breakfast on't”
”He'll tire the horse out yet,” said Thohby! stick to hioose, any time”
”He don't want no pipeclay, anyhow,” said Mosey, with childish levity
”Dark-coht to steer clear o' playful horses”
All eyes were turned on the young fellow's face in surprise and reprehension; and he uneasily attempted to carry off his inadvertent soleciser
”The horse can't hold outto lace his boots
”Can't he?” drawled Cooper, poking out the sterass ”He can hold out till soives way
That's what he's in the habit o' doin', I'oin'
to break his rule this tiot at you that trip, Collins,” re his back on the performance
”He seen you comin' Say, ole son--how'd you like to swap back?”
”I kep' misobin' that hoss all the (adj) time,” observed Nestor wisely
”I felt sort o' jubious, on'y I did n't wanter say nothink”
”There goes the pore (fellow) at last; I knowed the horse would do it,”
said Cooper, as the stern captive spue back that heaven bestowed
”Collar the horse quick!” suggested Dixon ”Nail hireat hurry,” I”However, I think I'd better have it out with him while he's warm Or perhaps one of you felloould like a try, while I do his yoking--just for a change?”
Cleopatra, now nibbling the scanty grass, glanced frorave sy himself with his toilet
”Ketch the (horse) quick!” reiterated Dixon
”I would n't ain,” I remarked, as I approached Cleopatra's head ”By Jacob's staff I swear I have noconclusions with this fellow for a dull, sickening”----
The adjectives were shorn of their noun, for Cleopatra, accurately gauging his distance, suddenly sprung round and lashed out with both hind feet You could have struck a ed hirass as before, while I looked round and inquired with sickly bravado, ”What noble Lucumo comes next, to taste our Roman cheer?”
But the bullock drivers silently repudiated the grim invitation, and hurried back to their work, which they now pursued with redoubled vigour and anxiety I reht Cleopatra froed the new saddle with ostentatious offhandedness, though in a prayerful fra was the matter I certainly anticipated Weste; but the horse, with a nonchalance greater than enuine, turned quietly round as I pressed the rein against his neck, and sailed away across the plain at his own inimitable canter Then I looked back to see the bullock drivers disgustedly resuain suspended
By this tirass swaone a quarter of aand crestfallen He had probably been kicked by one of the absconders; and as he could see no sign of civilisation except our caacity had drawn hions after a few minutes absence