Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday Now tliere is a wrong way and a rigitt way of niomiting a horse. You don't want to put your right foot into tlie left stin'up. A procedure that brought a titter of mirth. Having discovered which foot was required, Arthur managed to get same into the stirrup, but a horse ubually moves slightly forward as one mounts and it is advisable to stand slightly nearer the animal's head, so that one is helped into the saddle by the forward movement. Not unlike the mounting of a bicycle. Ti-y and mount a bicycle and not go with it, and you land on the mudguards and the ground. Well, Arthur landed on Buster's hindquarters, and then oliJ gracefully to the ground. More mirth, in which Maiian joined. "Buck up, Arthur." Arthur collected himself together, glared at the horse, squared nis shoulders, and went at Buster with a rush. His foot found the stirrup and \ip he went into the air, so fast that lio went clean over the saddle and landed iu a heap on the other side. "He's a trick rider," said one person unkindly. Arthur summoned a grin, struggled to liis feet and endeavoured to do the rush again, but not quite so fast. He landed in the saddle, clutched wildly at the ponmiel and again slid to the ground with a jolt that did his spine no end of good. By this time, Arthur was considerably bruised and dusty, but he wouldn't be beaten, and he came at the horse again. This time he reduced the rush, and onl:» half got into the saddle, another wild grab and once more he was on terr;i lirma. All the party yelled their appioval, but Marian was annoyed that her new friend was making such an exhibition of himself. He didn't seem to be ab'.e to do a single thing without making a mess of it. "We're meeting Winnie. Thclnia and Archie on the Ridgcway," she called out. "They'll get fed up with waiting if we don't hurry." The rest were so interested in Arthur's antics, that they didn't want to go, but Marian was a young woman who ha " her own way. She watched one uiolc fruitless effort, and then turned her horse down the drive. "You go ahead." called out Arthur, weakly. "I'll catch you up." More laughter and the party In lroo|>ed away. The groom held th re.-,tive horse, and it says much for ili man that his face never twitched. "May I show you, sir, the best way to mount Buster?" he said. " Hosses have their f;>ncies, and iJuster likes this way best." Therewith followe<l a Kiacefid and easy move- ment, which Arthur envious BOY'S CINEMA "Buster's got a tough mouth, mister, warned the groom. "Otherwise he's as quiet as a lamb." "Tough mouth?" "Been ridden hard by amateurs.' Perhaps the groom's mouth did twitch this time. "Always sawing on his mouth—makes 'cm tough. So that if you ain't careful, Buster will get the hit between his teeth and be froliesouu\ No harm in him, but likes a run." "What ought I to do?" "Keep a tight rein, mister," was the warning. "Never let him get his head down. In other words don't let him pry around for rabbit holes." Hero he lowered his voice to a whisper. "Take my tip, mister, and trot. _ Let I hem others do all the cantering 'and gallop- ing. '~)h, and one thing else" He hell up a linger in mysterious manner "Hosses has a way of knowing whc'i they're going home. A ho s will jo out all peaceful like, but directly > e turns his head for home, up goes lu- ears and whatho." "Whatho?" puzzled Arthur. "Goes all out at the first chance," grinned the groom. "That's when you want to keep ycr hands up. Good luck, mister." But Arthur hadn't heard the last sentence, because Buster had grown tired of waiting, had whisked round, and gone down the drive like a streak ' f ligiitning. Actually it was only a ca'iitpr, but to Arthur it seemed like lightning. Beating the Wind. FOR a few yards Arthur managed to Srip the leins, l)ut a sudden lurch made him feverishly grip the ponnnel. Out in the roadway, and every in- stinct seemed (o urge the boy (o choose the easy way and fall out of the saddle before it was too late, but though he couldn't ride ho had plenty of courage. He would stick on this plagucy horse if it killed him. Bump, bump, bump! He tried to ID vitualise other pcojjle that he had s<:<a riding. Between his anguish he se- mcmbcred someone telling him that c->:e must keep in time with the horse, and that if one rose in the air at the precise moment the jolting would cease. After a lot of painful jolting, Arthur suddenly found himself rising and falling. Ho felt frightfully elated until he rose a trifle too far and was pitched forwavd, his arms enfolded Buster's neck, and, by the time Arthur had .got back into the saddle. Buster had got the bit between his teeth. If the trot had been lightning, this was greased. His hat was wiiisked is-ona his head, v.hilst pop's large coat streamed out like a kite. He en- deavoured to lie back and drag the bit from Buster's teeth, and that neaily caused his downfall—only a desperate clutch at the pommel saved him. He remembered about gripping with the knees—advice he had read in a book— but with pants that are about ten sizes too big, it was nigh impossible. "Oh, look!" cried one of the youn.^i party. The yoiuig folk turned to sec Arthur boring down on them like an express train. "Hi, Ai'thur, stop!" cried Marian. But Arthur didn't stop because tie couldn't. He had foimd that by lyinj; low over Buster's neck he was able to recover his breath. Hence he looked like an out-of-work , jockey as bo flashed past. Buster saw a stretch of open country, and next moment was on soft grassland. "Help!" weakly moaned Arthur, and saw ahead a large hedge. Like a bird the horse went w'yt in the air, to disappear from the sight of the gaping party. "Well, I am surprised!" gasped one youth. "That's daredevil riding, and no mistake. I say, Marian, perhaps (haft new friend of yours was pulling our legs." "I expect he was," nnuinured Marian, forcing a smile. watched eyes with Let's have another trv," lie cried, dusting himself down, and hoping that Marian's father didn't often use his riding kit. This time. Arthur gained the saddle. where he wobbled like a watery jelly. Tlie groom showed him how to thread the reins between his fingers. Simple enough except that Buster would keep on tossing up his head, anxious no doubt to join the other horses Every lime that happened, Arthur was jolted forward and nearly shot over his head, only a desperate grip on the saddle saved the day. Arthur gripped Slim Harris by the throat. Fetjruary 15th, 19S0.