I am an experienced horseman, I have tight hold of your rein, so that your horse cannot bolt, and I have promised you not to go faster than a walk.

You see, then, the utmost that could happen in that way would be that the nag might caper a little." "Or kick and throw me off." "He will not kick, boy.

He is too well broken.

Secondly, you might lose your seat and come off: If you did, how far would you have to fall ?" "About four feet, father." "Say four.

Suppose you were on a see-saw at school, would you be afraid of falling, off four or five or six feet ?" "No, father, of course not." "Then why should you be afraid of falling that distance from the horse ?" "I don't know," said Nic.