Now he gave them some general instruction as to the nature of the evolutions they were to perform.
The next command came by bugle, and the platoon broke into column of fours, moving forward at the trot, Captain Albutt riding at the left flank near the head of the column.
As the horses fell into column of fours Haynes saw his chance.
Nearly always, in this formation, some of the horses bump their neighbors.

Haynes, by a slight twist of the bridle, threw horse over against Prescott's.

The thing was so natural as to attract no notice.
Just as the horses touched flanks, however, Haynes, with his right foot swiftly withdrawn from its stirrup-box, gave Satan a vicious jab with the pin-point protruding from the toe of his boot.
There was a wild snort.

Satan seemed instantly bent on proving the appropriateness of his name.
Lowering his head, Satan kicked out viciously with his hind feet, throwing the horses just behind into confusion.
Almost in the same instant Satan bit the rump of a horse in front of him.
Then up reared Prescotts mount.
Dick was a good horseman, but this move had caught him unawares.
A horse at a trot is not usually hard to manage, and Prescott had not been on his guard against any such trick.
By the time that Satan came down from his plunge Dick had a firm seat and a strong hand on the bridle.

But Satan was a tough-mouthed animal.