434 Ikin^s ot tbe Ibuntina^f ielb 



pull at the reins, he has arrested the full tide of their 

 career sufficiently to drop to the ground, and climb the 

 char-a-banc. 



' The four horses are well into their collars, and the 

 wheels are spinning round. His lordship has scrambled 

 to the box, and now, approaching the flags, he seizes the 

 ribbons, and shaking himself into his seat is at it again. 

 Enthusiasm and excitement rise to the highest pitch as 

 we watch each horse laying himself out to do his work, 

 all level as a die, and every trace taut. It is a heavy 

 vehicle, but those horses make nothing of it, and the 

 whole thing is soon beyond our ken. We have another 

 twenty minutes to wait, but we see now that, bar ac- 

 cidents, extraordinarily good time will be made, and we 

 anxiously watch for the return. Men who had taken up 

 positions along the road are now mustering in great 

 force at the winning-post. A current of feverish expec- 

 tancy shows itself in a low murmur ; but it has nothing 

 to do with betting, for hardly any one here has a farthing 

 on, but it is the genuine interest which the British 

 public always feel in witnessing an extraordinary feat 

 by a thoroughly honest sportsman. 



' Now the horses' heads are in sight — they are racing 

 down the hill. The postillion earl is sitting in the 

 saddle and sending them along at the very top of their 

 speed. Every one gets as near to the post as he can, 

 and in the excitement of the moment is heedless that 

 he stands half up to the knees in snow. Clear the 

 road ! The horses seem to fly, and in another second 

 they sweep past the post. Up go hats and caps, real 

 hearty British yells rend the air, and the race is over. 



' The twenty miles were done in 55 min. 30 sec. This 

 is a record that will not be easily lowered. As far as 



