Cleopatra 



millimetres lower than the fence, but as that now 

 lay in one direction and Cleopatra was galloping 

 as fast as I have ever thought it possible for any- 

 thing to gallop in the other, I gave up the idea 

 altogether. 



Just before I had gone to bed the night before, 

 I remember Rawdon standing in the doorway, 

 lamp in hand, saying, ''Cleopatra likes to go at her 

 jumps pretty fast, so don't check her. Let her go, 

 but stop her when you're over or you never will." 

 That was one of the things I had on my mind 

 most of the morning; but just because she had a 

 reputation for rushing her jumps seemed to me no 

 reason why she should act as if she had been sub- 

 sidized to carry the mails. I do not mind saying 

 I shut my eyes, and did not open them until I 

 struck the other side. Afterwards Rawdon, who 

 followed me over on Granny, said he had never 

 seen Cleopatra give such a brilliant performance. 

 I rather imagined she had; it felt that way, but, 

 of course, I had my eyes shut and can't be certain. 



The hounds in the field beyond were giving 

 tongue at a great rate, for the frost was just com- 

 ing out of the ground and the scent lay strong and 

 certain. Cleopatra had her head in the air, and as I 

 held back on the bit I could feel her breath coming 

 sharply through widened thoroughbred nostrils, 

 and feel her short-coupled back bucking under me 

 43 



