JACK AS A TROOPER 



His comrades, though thoroughly enjoying his dis- 

 comfiture, were yet ready with advice. 



" Twist his tail, Jack," said one, recollecting the 

 wonderful results of this method as applied to the bullocks 

 on the recent march. 



" Hit him behind," suggests another, secretly longing 

 to witness the disaster such a proceeding was likely to 

 bring about. 



But the wily " Jack " knew better than to attempt any 

 such perilous experiments. Well aware that his reputed 

 " skill," based on a previous donkey ride or two, was un- 

 likely to stand the strain of any acrobatic feat that his 

 steed might indulge in if annoyed, he was determined that 

 gentle means alone should be employed. 



Unfortunately for him, however, the horse, weary of 

 standing still, now took the matter into his own hands, 

 and plunging suddenly forward commenced to kick, sending 

 the hapless rider flying through the air into the midst of his 

 comrades, now convulsed with laughter ! 



But to describe all the comical sights I witnessed in 

 that wondrous riding school would fill more pages than my 

 readers would probably care to read. Suffice it then to 

 say that, at the end of ten days' instruction, every member 

 of the troop had acquired, if not the art of riding, at any 

 rate of sitting on a horse without falling off, and so we 

 resumed our march. 



Shortly after this we had several skirmishes with the 

 enemy, both while on the march, and when we were en- 

 camped at nights. Some of these encounters ended in 

 sharp fighting, but as we invariably drove the rebels off, 

 the troop had many oppportunities of testing their newly- 

 acquired horsemanship and acquitted themselves well when 

 galloping in pursuit. 



Unfortunately for me, however, a serious accident 

 which occurred a day or two previous to the first engage- 

 ment, not only prevented my sharing in these events but 

 nearly brought my soldiering to an untimely end. 



As the incidents which led to my disaster were of a 

 somewhat exciting nature, I venture to narrate them. 



The horse allotted to me proved to be one of the most 

 vicious of the lot, and though by careful handling I had, 



15 



