So villainous were these swerves that Dick had several narrow
escapes from being unhorsed. A man of less skill would have been.
At first the other members of the squad looked on only with
amused interest. When, however, they caught the grave look on the
captain's face, they began to comprehend how serious the situation was.
Satan, finding other devices for throwing his rider to be useless,
soon resorted to the most wicked trick known to the equine mind.
He reared, intent on throwing himself over backward, crushing
his rider beneath him.
Captain Albutt reached the spot at a gallop, just in the nick
of time. Standing in his stirrups, he caught one side of the
bridle just in time to pull the horse's head down.
But, foiled in this attempt, Satan allowed his front feet to come
down. Close to the ground the brute lowered its head, kicking
up high with his hind heels. This, accompanied by a "worming"
motion, sent Prescott flying from his saddle.
He made an unavoidable plunge over the animal's head.
"Let go your bridle!" roared Captain Albutt.
In the same instant the cavalry officer leaped from his own saddle.
Over came Cadet Prescott, turning a somersault in the air.
Albutt had jumped in order to catch the cadet.
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