16 IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 



lying flat, then resume your first position, keep- 

 ing your arms and forearms at right angles dur- 

 ing the whole exercise. Still sitting, bend as 

 far to the right as you can, and then bend as 

 far as possible to the left, resuming a perfectly 

 erect position between the movements, and 

 keeping your feet and legs still. Rising, stand 

 on your toes and let yourself down fifty times ; 

 then stand on your heels, and raise and lower 

 the toes fifty times. The firmer you hold your 

 arms and hands during these movements, the 

 better for you, Esmeralda, and for the horse 

 who will be your first victim. 



Already one can seem to see him, poor, 

 innocent beast, miserable in the memories of 

 an army of beginners, his mouth so accus- 

 tomed to being jerked in every direction, 

 without anything in particular being meant by 

 it, that neither Arabia nor Mexico can furnish 

 a bit which would surprise him, or startle 

 his four legs from their propriety. No cow 

 is more placid, no lamb more gentle ; he 

 would not harm a tsetse fly or kick a snapping 

 terrier. His sole object in life is to keep him- 

 self and his rider out of danger, and to betake 



