书城小说纳尼亚传奇全集(英文原版)
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第426章 The Horse And His Boy(16)

For the next few minutes Shasta was at work, ver y cautiously to avoid jingling, while the Horse said things like, “Get that girth a bit tighter” or “You’ll find a buckle lower down “ or “You‘ll need to shorten those stirrups a good bit.” When all was finished he said:

“Now; we’ve got to have reins for the look of the thing, but you won‘t be using them. Tie them to the saddle.bow: very slack so that I can do what I like with my head. And, remember.you are not to touch them.”

“What are they for, then?” asked Shasta.

“Ordinarily they are for directing me,” replied the Horse. “But as I intend to do all the directing on this journey, you’ll please keep your hands to yourself. And there‘s another thing. I’m not going to have you grabbing my mane.”

“But I say,” pleaded Shasta. “If I‘m not to hold on by thereins or by your mane, what am I to hold on by?”

“You hold on with your knees,” said the Horse. “That’s the secret of good riding. Grip my body between your knees as hard as you like; sit straight up, straight as a poker;keep your elbows in. And by the way, what did you do with the spurs?”

“Put them on my heels, of course,” said Shasta. “I do know that much.”