It's a good thing that you have no spurs." "Is it, father ?" "Of course," cried the doctor; "if you had, Sour Sorrel would have soon pitched you off." "I'm very sorry, father," faltered Nic, who felt very miserable as well as uncomfortable.

"Had I better get down and lead him ?" "If you feel so much afraid that you dare not stop on, my boy," said the doctor drily.
The dawn was coming, and Nic turned to glance at his father's thin, cleanly cut profile, to see that he was gazing straight before him towards where the waggon could be dimly seen in front.
"Well, are you ?" continued the doctor, without turning his head.
Nic was silent, and the horse stumbled through putting a foot into a deep rut of the unkept road.
"Hold up, sir--steady, steady!" cried the doctor, drawing more heavily upon the rein he still held, as well as his own; and then, after Nic had shuffled back into the seat from which he had again been shaken, "I said, are you too much alarmed to stop on ?" These words sounded very stern, and stung and hurt the boy to the quick.
"I have never learned to ride, father," he said reproachfully; "and it is all fresh to me to be mounted upon a spirited horse like this." "Of course it is: perfectly fresh.

Then you feel afraid ?" "Yes, of falling off, father.

I have nearly been down three times." "Six, Nic.

Well, get off and climb on to the waggon." Nic drew a deep breath as his father checked the horses; and, stung more than ever, the boy kicked his nag with his heels and sent it forward.
"Well, why don't you get down, sir ?" "Because I'd rather keep on and ride, father," said Nic huskily.
"Do you mean that, sir ?" "Yes, father." "Thank you, Nic," said the doctor, turning to him with a smile.