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166 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON |
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well in them; but I had more trouble in teaching it to be a saddle-horse. I formed a sort of saddle with sailcloth, and upon this I fixed a burden, which I increased daily. The monkey was the first rider, and he stuck so close to the saddle, that in spite of the plunging and kicking of the buffalo, he was not thrown. Francis was then tried, as the lightest of the family, and managed very well. Jack now showed impatience to mount, so I passed the stick through the buffalo's nose, and tied strong packthread to each end of it, and put this bridle into his hands. For a time he kept on the saddle, notwithstanding the wild antics of his steed ; but at last he was thrown, without being hurt. He was quite ready to try again, and then Fritz had his turn ; so at last the buffalo got used to carrying one or the other of us, and so strong was it, that the three eldest boys could mount together, and it hardly seemed to feel their weight.
Fritz, meantime, did not neglect his eagle. He taught it to perch on his wrist whenever he called or whistled to it; but some time elapsed before he could trust it to soar without holding it by a long string to bring it back.
When I had completed the staircase, I turned my attention to the making of a pair of rubber boots. |
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