WEIGHING AND SADDLING. L3 



and made sure that there was nothing in my "get- 

 up " likely to invite criticism or betray greenness, 

 I made my way to the weighing-room, where, 

 without saddle and bridle, I pulled down very 

 little over eight stone and a-half, being only a 

 couple of pounds over weight, for I received seven 

 pounds, my horse never having run in a previous 

 race, whilst winners had to carry seven pounds 

 extra. 



These arrangements were hardly settled when 

 the bugle for saddling sounded, and, having seen 

 to this myself, I mounted for the preliminary can- 

 ter. As I rode slowly past the stand, in which 

 all the beauty and aristocracy of the cantonment 

 were assembled, a waving of handkerchiefs at- 

 tracted my attention, and there was "the Nina" 

 and her party arrayed in light blue (my colours), 

 whilst another who, in my opinion, was quite as 

 fair, looked "unutterable things." Moonlight was 

 in the best of tempers, and, although a dark horse, 

 attracted considerable attention, for his coat shone 

 like velvet, showing his condition. His appearance 

 was hailed with a shout by some of the soldiers, 



