"I hope," said Anthony, "I may be entitled to the same privilege." "Of course. Pounset, I think, will be your front-rank man. He's quite up to the whole manoeuvre, only you must take care of his mare. But here we are at Abbey-hill gate, and just in time." I was introduced in due form to the officers of the squadron, with none of whom I was previously acquainted, and was directed to take my place as Randolph's rear-rank man, so that in file we marched together. Before us were two veteran yeomen, and behind were Anthony and Pounset. Nothing particular occurred during our march to Portobello sands. Masaniello behaved in a manner which did him infinite credit, and contributed not a little to my comfort. He neither reared nor plunged, but contented him at times with a resolute shake of the head, as if he disapproved of something, and an occasional sniff at Randolph's filly, whenever she brought her head too near. On arriving at the sands we formed into column, so that Anthony and I were once more side by side. The other squadrons of the regiment were already drawn up, and at any other time I should no doubt have considered the scene as sufficiently imposing. I had other things, however, to think of besides military grandeur. "I say, Anthony," said I, somewhat nervously, "do you know anything about these twistified manoeuvres?" "Indeed I do not!" replied Whaup, "I've been puzzling my brains for the last three days over the Yeomanry Regulations, but I can make nothing out of their 'Reverse flanks' and 'Reforming by sections of threes?'" "And I'm as ignorant as a baby! What on earth are we to do? That big fellow of a sergeant won't let us stand quietly, I suppose." "I stick to Pounset," said Whaup. "Whatever he does I do, and I advise you to do the same by Randolph." "But what if they should ride away? Isn't there some disgusting nonsense about forming from threes?" "I suppose the horses know something about it, else what's the use of them? That brute of yours must have gone through the evolutions a thousand times, and ought to know the word of command by heart--Hallo!--I say, Pounset, just take care of that mare of yours, will ye! She's kicking like the very devil, and my beast is beginning to plunge!" "I wouldn't be Pounset's rear-rank for twenty pounds," said a stalwart trooper to the left. "She has the ugliest trick of using her heels of any mare in Christendom." "Much obliged to you, sir, for the information," said Whaup, controlling, with some difficulty, the incessant curveting of his steed. "I say, Pounset, if she tries that trick again I'll hamstring her without the slightest ceremony." "Pooh--nonsense!" replied Pounset. "Woa, Miss Frolic--woa, lass!--she's the gentlest creature in the creation--a child might ride her with a feather. Mere playfulness, my dear fellow, I assure you!" "Hang her playfulness!" cried Anthony; "I've no idea of having my brains made a batter pudding for the amusement of a jade like that."