At the words “no stirrups” Dick winced a little, but he set his teeth a bit harder.
The horse bore a regular high-peaked and pommelled saddle of the military type, and the sergeant took the reins while the syce went, as the lad supposed, to take off or cross the stirrups over the horse’s back; but, rather to Dick’s dismay, he rapidly unbuckled the girths and drew the saddle off, carrying it to a great peg near the door, and then hurrying back to take the reins from the sergeant’s hand.
“Ready, sir?” said the latter.
Dick nodded.
“Then I’ll give you a leg up. Take the reins. No, no; that’s not our way, sir. Only pass your little finger between them this fashion, and let them both run through your hand, passing them together between your thumb and first finger. See; this way. Gives you a firmer pull in reining up short.”
Dick nodded, after watching the sergeant, who then dropped the reins on the horse’s neck.
“Now then, take up your reins.”
Dick obeyed, holding them exactly as the sergeant had done the moment before.
“Wrong!” shouted his master. “Try again.”
Dick dropped the rein, and turned an inquiring look at his tutor.