THE RACE. 15 



the horses walked up the interest evinced was 

 immense, and for a moment scarcely even the 

 slight hum of the crowd could be heard. At last 

 the word " Go !" was given, and we were away. 

 The jemedar on the gray made the running, and 

 the pace was severe to commence with; but I kept 

 close to the chesnut, as I felt that he was the 

 most dangerous. Moonlight was doing his work 

 well, and I had only to sit steady and keep his 

 head straight. The first and second fences were 

 cleared by the whole field, but one swerved at the 

 water and two fell in. The jemedar by this time 

 was three or four lengths ahead, and at his girths 

 rode the civilian. I still kept close to the favourite, 

 who was going as if he was conscious of what he 

 had to do, whilst his rider's countenance was as 

 calm and unmoved as if he was only taking a con- 

 stitutional canter. We rode side by side, taking 

 our jumps together, with our knees within a yard 

 of each other, and for a mile there was hardly 

 any perceptible difierence in our horses' stride. 

 Although the ground was rather broken the pace 

 was tremendous, and I knew could not long last. 



