Oh, what would I not have given to have asked advice of any one! But unfortunately I could not do so without at once betraying my ignorance of horsemanship.

I therefore took care to bring up the rear, under the pretence that my horse was shy, and would not go well unless it saw the others before it.

My real reason was that I wished to hide my manoeuvres from the gentlemen, for every moment I expected to fall.

Frequently I clutched the saddle with both hands, as I swayed from side to side.

I looked forward in terror to the gallop, but to my surprise found that I could manage this pace better than the trot.