"
Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured
Ben that he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction
given, and to please this new master who had been placed over him.
And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep,
not to awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree
into the next town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his
name, with no gentle tone, several times.
Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one
he had; for after the boy had once been into the ring his master
seemed to expect that he could do everything which he was told to
do, and when he failed in any little particular the long lash of
the whip would go curling around his legs or arms, until the little
fellow's body and limbs were nearly covered with the blue and black
stripes.
For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from
falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the
broad wooden saddle, or pad, as it is properly called; and whenever
he lost his balance and fell there was no question asked as to
whether or not he had hurt himself, but he was mercilessly cut with
the whip.
Messrs. Lord and Jacobs gained very much by comparison with Mr.
Castle in Toby's mind. He had thought that his lot could not be
harder than it was with them; but when he had experienced the pains
of two or three of Mr.
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