"He'll get usen to ye after a day or two," he said reassuringly.
Mose's horsemanship was on trial, and though nervous and white, he led the pinto out and prepared to mount.
"If he wants to gambol a little, just let him go, only keep his head up," said Reynolds with careless glance.
Cora came out of the house and stood looking on, while Mose tightened the cinch again, and grasping the pommel with both hands put his toe in the stirrup.

The pinto leaped away sidewise, swift as a cat, but before he could fairly get into motion Mose was astride, with both feet in the stirrups.

With a series of savage sidewise bounds, the horse made off at a tearing pace, thrusting his head upon the bit in the hope to jerk his rider out of his seat.

Failing of this he began to leap like a sheep.
Just as he was about to let up on this Mose sank the rowels into him with a wild yell, and hotly lashed him from side to side with the end of his rope.

For a few rods the horse continued to leap with stiffened legs and upraised back, then abandoned all tricks and ran up the hill like a scared antelope.
When Reynolds caught up with his new "hand" he smiled and said: "I reckon you can be trusted to look out fo' yo'sef," and the heart of the youth glowed with pleasure.
Again he felt the majesty and splendor of the life into which he had penetrated.