Hoof Beats 



and they were hoff. There was no keeping back 

 with Black Douglas. When the flag fell 'e bolted 

 and at the first jump he was a good 'arf dozen 

 lengths in the lead. The pace 'e was going was 

 awful; I shut my eyes and prayed, and when I 

 opened 'em again, he was safe over and leading, 

 with the field pressing 'im hard. 



"Ah, but the way my lord rode was a picture; 

 never a move did he make! He glued his knees 

 to the saddle and gave the colt's head free play. 

 The crowd was yelling itself hoarse, and Black 

 Douglas still in the front, going strong; 'is lord- 

 ship quiet and cool. Twice they'd been around, 

 them always leading, when the favorite began to 

 draw on. It was just before the water jump, and 

 I see 'is lordship take one look back when 'e 

 heard the sound of the other. The favorite's 

 nose reached the leg of 'is boot, then 'is lordship 

 leaned forward on Black Douglas' neck and I see 

 the flash of the sun on 'is whip as it rose and fell 

 three times. They took the water together, the 

 grand stand rose as one man and a great shout 

 went up as they cleared it. But the blood in 'em 

 tells every time and the sting of the whip drove 

 Black Douglas mad. 



'*One more jump, then 'arf a mile to the finish; 

 the crowd barely breathed as it watched. The 

 two were running side by side, and as they came 

 54 



