Eoof Beats 



laughed and nodded his head at me over his 

 shoulder. 



"That's Cleopatra; she'll give you a good ride 

 all right. All you have to do is to sit tight the 

 first couple of fields and put her at the biggest 

 panels you see. After that, if she doesn't get 

 away with you, she will settle down and a lady 

 could ride her." 



I think the stable must have been warm after 

 the drive in the cold night air, for I felt quite dizzy 

 for a moment and took a swallow of water out of 

 the spigot where the horses drank. How much 

 nicer I thought it would be to have some-one else 

 ride Cleopatra the first couple li fields over the 

 biggest panels, and then get on her after she had 

 settled down. I laughinglj^ suggested the idea to 

 Rawdon, but I must have done the laugh too well, 

 for he took it as a joke and chuckled for several 

 minutes. 



The horse Merryweather meant to ride was a 

 big, fatherly looking animal covered with brown 

 fur that made him look about twice as large as he 

 really was, and really more like some prehistoric 

 animal than a horse; but Rawdon said he was a 

 splendid jumper, over fifteen years old, and had 

 never been down in his life. 



I waxed honestly enthusiastic when I heard this, 

 and Rawdon seemed pleased and said he would 

 34 



