Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/220

, then clung with his knees, but could get no grip on the yielding mass of skins. "Hol' up, Side!" he yelled. "Hol' him. I'm a-slippin'."

In a chorus Said and Hamuda strove to make the Excellency comprehend that donkeys must not be ridden with a pressure of knees and a foot in the stirrup, after the fashion of horses.

"No, no, La, La," they insisted, "not so." Effendi must spread his legs much wide. Legs must dangle, so—and balance himself, so—Said stretched out his arms like a soaring vulture, and made the demonstration clear. "Excellency shall guide donkey with stick, not by bridle."

Being nimble-minded with a mule, old Zack caught on to their suggestions: "Sholy, jes bat him over de head on 'tother side fum de way you 'zires him to travel? Lemme try."

Hamuda trotted at the donkey's head, and Said jogged along behind. Zack grinned, and guided with his stick. At a turn too sharp he careened, gripped frantically with his knees and would have fallen but for Hamuda, who restored the proper equilibrium. Then they demonstrated again, until Zack got the hang of it. "Dat's easy; jes like a feller settin' on a tight-rope wid a balancin' pole." Possessing such long legs and heavy feet, there was no sense in Zack's losing his balance. Now he rode alone, laughed aloud, and forged ahead. But it was poor fun in an empty