Index: src/global.c
===================================================================
--- src/global.c	(revision 5366)
+++ src/global.c	(working copy)
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@
 subnfunc *uncutfunc;
 	/* Pointer to the special Uncut/Unjustify item. */
 
+int start_from = 0;
+	/* The number of the shortcut at which the help lines start. */
+
 #ifndef DISABLE_HISTORIES
 filestruct *search_history = NULL;
 	/* The search string history list. */
@@ -603,6 +606,7 @@
 	N_("Suspend the editor (if suspension is enabled)");
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     const char *nano_savefile_msg = N_("Save file without prompting");
+    const char *nano_rolllines_msg = N_("Roll the help lines");
     const char *nano_findprev_msg = N_("Search next occurrence backward");
     const char *nano_findnext_msg = N_("Search next occurrence forward");
     const char *nano_case_msg =
@@ -935,6 +939,9 @@
     add_to_funcs(do_savefile, MMAIN,
 	N_("Save"), IFSCHELP(nano_savefile_msg), BLANKAFTER, NOVIEW);
 
+    add_to_funcs(roll_help_lines, MMAIN,
+	N_("Roll help"), IFSCHELP(nano_rolllines_msg), BLANKAFTER, VIEW);
+
     add_to_funcs(do_findprevious, MMAIN,
 	N_("Previous"), IFSCHELP(nano_findprev_msg), TOGETHER, VIEW);
     add_to_funcs(do_findnext, MMAIN,
@@ -1158,6 +1165,8 @@
     add_to_sclist(MMAIN, "M-Z", do_toggle_void, SUSPEND);
 #endif /* !NANO_TINY */
 
+    add_to_sclist(MMAIN, "M-;", roll_help_lines, 0);
+
     add_to_sclist(MMAIN, "^Q", xon_complaint, 0);
     add_to_sclist(MMAIN, "^S", xoff_complaint, 0);
 
@@ -1456,6 +1465,8 @@
 	s->scfunc = total_refresh;
     else if (!strcasecmp(input, "suspend"))
 	s->scfunc = do_suspend_void;
+    else if (!strcasecmp(input, "rollhelplines"))
+	s->scfunc = roll_help_lines;
     else if (!strcasecmp(input, "casesens"))
 	s->scfunc = case_sens_void;
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
Index: src/proto.h
===================================================================
--- src/proto.h	(revision 5366)
+++ src/proto.h	(working copy)
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@
 
 extern char *homedir;
 
+extern int start_from;
+
 typedef void (*functionptrtype)(void);
 
 /* All functions in browser.c. */
@@ -793,6 +795,7 @@
 void titlebar(const char *path);
 extern void set_modified(void);
 void statusbar(const char *msg, ...);
+void roll_help_lines(void);
 void bottombars(int menu);
 void onekey(const char *keystroke, const char *desc, size_t len);
 void reset_cursor(void);
Index: src/winio.c
===================================================================
--- src/winio.c	(revision 5366)
+++ src/winio.c	(working copy)
@@ -2299,6 +2299,20 @@
 	26;
 }
 
+/* "Scroll" the help lines a bunch of items to the left. */
+void roll_help_lines(void)
+{
+    if (start_from == 0)
+	start_from += 2;
+
+    start_from += MAIN_VISIBLE - 4;
+
+    if (start_from >= length_of_list(currmenu))
+	start_from = 0;
+
+    bottombars(currmenu);
+}
+
 /* Display the shortcut list in s on the last two rows of the bottom
  * portion of the window. */
 void bottombars(int menu)
@@ -2306,6 +2320,7 @@
     size_t i, colwidth, slen;
     subnfunc *f;
     const sc *s;
+    int leftmost = start_from;
 
     /* Set the global variable to the given menu. */
     currmenu = menu;
@@ -2313,18 +2328,19 @@
     if (ISSET(NO_HELP))
 	return;
 
-    if (menu == MMAIN) {
+    slen = length_of_list(menu);
+
+    if (leftmost > slen)
+	leftmost = 0;
+
+    if (slen > MAIN_VISIBLE)
 	slen = MAIN_VISIBLE;
 
-	assert(slen <= length_of_list(menu));
-    } else {
-	slen = length_of_list(menu);
+    /* If not at the beginning, reduce the number of items, to give
+     * each item a little more space. */
+    if (leftmost > 0)
+	slen = slen - 2;
 
-	/* Don't show any more shortcuts than the main list does. */
-	if (slen > MAIN_VISIBLE)
-	    slen = MAIN_VISIBLE;
-    }
-
     /* There will be this many characters per column, except for the
      * last two, which will be longer by (COLS % colwidth) columns so as
      * to not waste space.  We need at least three columns to display
@@ -2337,7 +2353,7 @@
     fprintf(stderr, "In bottombars, and slen == \"%d\"\n", (int) slen);
 #endif
 
-    for (f = allfuncs, i = 0; i < slen && f != NULL; f = f->next) {
+    for (f = allfuncs, i = 0; i < leftmost + slen && f != NULL; f = f->next) {
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	fprintf(stderr, "Checking menu items....");
@@ -2355,6 +2371,14 @@
 #endif
 	    continue;
 	}
+
+	if (i == (leftmost - 1)) {
+	    i = 0;
+	    leftmost = 0;
+	    blank_bottombars();
+	    continue;
+	}
+
 	wmove(bottomwin, 1 + i % 2, (i / 2) * colwidth);
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	fprintf(stderr, "Calling onekey with keystr \"%s\" and desc \"%s\"\n", s->keystr, f->desc);