` What makes you say that ? ' he asked , as he scrambled back into the saddle , keeping hold of Alice 's hair with one hand , to save himself from falling over on the other side . ` Because people do n't fall off quite so often , when they 've had much practice . ' ` I 've had plenty of practice , ' the Knight said very gravely : ` plenty of practice ! ' Alice could think of nothing better to say than ` Indeed ? ' but she said it as heartily as she could . They went on a little way in silence after this , the Knight with his eyes shut , muttering to himself , and Alice watching anxiously for the next tumble . ` The great art of riding , ' the Knight suddenly began in a loud voice , waving his right arm as he spoke , ` is to keep -- ' Here the sentence ended as suddenly as it had begun , as the Knight fell heavily on the top of his head exactly in the path where Alice was walking . She was quite frightened this time , and said in an anxious tone , as she picked him up , ' I hope no bones are broken ? ' ` None to speak of , ' the Knight said , as if he did n't mind breaking two or three of them . ` The great art of riding , as I was saying , is -- to keep your balance properly . Like this , you know -- ' He let go the bridle , and stretched out both his arms to show Alice what he meant , and this time he fell flat on his back , right under the horse 's feet . ` Plenty of practice ! ' he went on repeating , all the time that Alice was getting him on his feet again . ` Plenty of practice ! ' ` It 's too ridiculous ! ' cried Alice , losing all her patience this time . ` You ought to have a wooden horse on wheels , that you ought ! ' ` Does that kind go smoothly ? ' the Knight asked in a tone of great interest , clasping his arms round the horse 's neck as he spoke , just in time to save himself from tumbling off again .
` Much more smoothly than a live horse , ' XXXXX said , with a little scream of laughter , in spite of all she could do to prevent it .
Alice Knight None art fall hair horse patience right tone