He was just considering how he might best escape an ugly fall--looking for a soft spot--when, all at once, a grand idea rushed into his mind.
He remembered that in taming this same quagga and breaking him to the saddle, he had been vastly aided by a very simple contrivance--that was a "blind." The blind was nothing more than a piece of soft leather tied over the animal's eyes; but so complete had been its effect, that it had transformed the quagga at once from a kicking screaming creature into a docile animal.
Hendrik now thought of the blind.
True, he had none.

Was there nothing about him that would serve as one?
His handkerchief?
No, it would be too thin.

Hurrah! His jacket would do! His rifle was in the way.

It must be got rid of.

It must be dropped to the ground, he could return for it.
It was let down as gently as possible, and soon left far behind.
In a twinkling Hendrik stripped off his jacket.