gradually shortening the stirrups for the last hour, hoping in that way
to get a firmer seat. His long stick was in one hand, his old hat was
jammed down tightly over his eyes, and his dressing-gown floated in the
wind like a rag-bag out for a holiday.

"Oh, I'se mighty glad to see yer, Mah'sr Harry!" said he, pulling at his
horse's bridle in such a way as to make him nearly run into Selim and
Harry, who, however, managed to avoid him and the rest of the cavalcade
by moving off to the other side of the road.

"I was jist a-thinkin' uv gittin' off and lettin' em go 'long they own
se'ves. I never seed sich hosses fur twistin' up and pullin' crooked. I
'spected to have my neck broke mor' 'n a dozen times. I never was so
disgruntled in all my born days, Mah'sr Harry. Whoa dar, you yaller
hoss! Won't you take a-hole, Mah'sr Harry, afore dey're de death uv me?"

The old man had certainly got the horses into a mixed-up condition. One
of them was beside the horse he rode, two were behind, and one was
wedged in partly in front of these in such a way that he had to travel
sidewise. The bridle of one horse was tied to that of another, so that
Uncle Braddock led them all by the bridle of the horse by his side. This
was tied to his long cane, which he grasped firmly in his left hand.

Harry jumped down from Selim, and, tying him to the fence, went over to
the assistance of Uncle Braddock. As he was quite familiar with horses,
Harry soon arranged matters on a more satisfactory footing. He
disentangled the animals, two of which he proposed to take charge of
himself, and then, after making Uncle Braddock lengthen his stirrups,
and lead both his horses on one side of him, he fastened the other two
horses side by side, mounted Selim, and started back for Akeville,