# III: The First Horseman explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

Ugh-lomi, after observing horses from a tree, leaps onto the back of the Master Horse and experiences the first ride. He is thrown off but survives, returning to the tribe of the Sons of Uya, who tell him that Uya has returned as a lion. Ugh-lomi hesitates to cross the river to them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Unknown

Ugh-lomi's first ride on the horse represents humanity's encounter with the untamed natural world and the unknown.

### Ambition and Failure

Ugh-lomi's ambition to ride the horse leads to a thrilling but ultimately unsuccessful ride, ending in a fall.

## Character check-ins

### Ugh-lomi

Ugh-lomi successfully rides the Master Horse, falls off, and returns to the tribe of the Sons of Uya, where he learns Uya has become a lion.

### Eudena

Eudena watches Ugh-lomi's attempts to approach and ride the horses from the cover of bracken.

### Uya the Cunning

Uya is mentioned as having been killed by Ugh-lomi, but the tribe says he has returned as a lion.

## Key lines

> Hold tight, said Mother Instinct, and he did.

Instinct told him to hold on tightly, and he obeyed.

_Ugh-lomi's primal survival instinct takes over during his first ride._

> It was man's first taste of pace.

This was the first time a human experienced speed.

_The narrative highlights the historical significance of the moment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters/iii-the-first-horseman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_25_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_25_se/chapters