146 IN THE BIDING-SCHOOL. 



gentleman covetous of a flyer soon finds to be 

 enough for him to manage, because William, 

 although accustomed to riders awkward through 

 weakness, is not used to the manners of what 

 is called the " three-legged trotter" ; that is to 

 say, the man whose unbent arms and tightened 

 reins make a straight line from his shoulders to 

 his horse's mouth, while his whole weight is 

 thrown upon the reins by a backward inclina- 

 tion of his body. 



If you would )ike to know how Billy feels 

 about it, Esmeralda, bend your chin toward 

 your throat, and imagine a bar of iron placed 

 across your tongue and pulling your head up- 

 ward. It would hurt you, but you could raise 

 your head, and still go forward, making wild 

 gestures with your hands, kicking, perhaps, in a 

 ladylike manner, as Gail Hamilton kicked Hali- 

 carnassus, but by no means stopping. Now 

 suppose that bar of iron drawn backward by 

 reins passing one on each side of your shoulders 

 and held firmly between your scapulae ; you 

 could not go forward without almost breaking 

 your neck, could you ? No more could Billy, if 

 his rider would let out his reins, bend his elbows, 



