"
"I understand," Dick said. "It is just as you do on board ship, when
she is rolling a bit. Let go the reins."
For half an hour the horse proceeded, at a walk, along the road that
wound in and out through the park-like grounds.
"I begin to feel quite at home," Dick said, at the end of that time.
"I should like to go a bit faster now. It is no odds if I do tumble
off."
"Shake your rein a little. The horse will understand it," Anwar said.
Dick did so, and Murad at once started at a gentle canter. Easy as it
was, Dick thought several times that he would be off. However, he
gripped as tightly as he could with his knees, and as he became
accustomed to the motion, and learned to give to it, acquired ease and
confidence. He was not, however, sorry when, at the end of another
half hour, Anwar held up his hand as he approached him, and the horse
stopped at the slightest touch of the rein.
As he slid off, his legs felt as if they did not belong to him, and
his back ached so that he could scarce straighten it. The Rajah and
his sons had returned to the palace, and the boys were there waiting
for him.
"You have done very well, cousin," Doast said, with grave approval.
"You will not be long before you can ride as well as we can.
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