“Why,” replied the Centaur, speaking slowly as if it were not easy for him to talk; “I knew you could ride and I was sent for you.”
Sid couldn’t understand why he could ride easier than any other boy. “Can’t everybody ride?” he asked in a quick way he has when he is interested in anything.
“Oh, bless you, no,” said the Centaur; “very few indeed; it all depends on your mind. Most boys wouldn’t have seen me, much less kept on my back.”
Sid thought that was very queer, but he asked no more questions about it. He didn’t feel very well acquainted yet.
“Who sent you for me?” he continued at last.
“Chiron sent me,” answered the Centaur getting on his legs, “and we must be off.”
He put Sid on his back as before and started on a gentle canter. They were on the side of a mountain with here and there olive trees and pines.
“Where are we?” asked Sid after a moment.
“Is this Thes—Thes—?”
“Yes,” said the Centaur; “it’s Thessaly.”