IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 41 



few muscles there are to which one may not 

 give employment in an hour's practice in 

 the ring. If you like, you may, without the 

 assistance of your master, lean forward to the 

 right side until your left shoulder touches your 

 horse's crest, and when you are trotting it is 

 well now and then to lean forward and to the 

 right until you can see your horse's forefeet, but 

 you would better not perform the same exercise 

 on the left side for the present, for you might 

 overbalance yourself and almost slip from the 

 saddle. If able, as you should be, to touch the 

 floor with your finger tips without bending your 

 knees, this little movement will be nothing to 

 you, but do not bend to the left, Esmeralda. 

 Why not ? Why, because if you will have the 

 truth, you are slipping toward the left already, 

 your right shoulder is drooping forward, and 

 your weight is hanging in your stirrup and pull- 

 ing your saddle to the left so forcibly that your 

 horse has lost all respect for you, and would be 

 thoroughly uncomfortable, were it not that you 

 have forgotten all about your thumbs, and have 

 allowed your reins to slip away from you, so 

 that he is going where he pleases, except when 



