58 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER 



' The momentous day at last arrived when I was 

 to make my debut in the pigskin as a steeplechase 

 rider, and I must own the excitement was tremen- 

 dous, although I tried hard to dissemble my feelings 

 and appear cool. The race was to be run at five 

 o'clock in the afternoon, as by that time the intense 

 heat of the day had passed away, and the power of 

 the sun's rays was diminished. Soon after dawn I 

 had Moonlight saddled, and rode him quietly over 

 the ground, which described a large circle round the 

 usual course, the last half-mile being a straight run- 

 in past the stand. The distance was about three 

 miles, and the fences would have been considered 

 stiff even in Leicestershire, whilst the water-jumps 

 were decidedly " yawners." Moonlight cleared his 

 fences like a deer, and his easy springy action and 

 superb condition were all that I could have desired. 

 After breakfast I went to a large marquee near the 

 stand, where a good deal of gambling was going on, 

 and found to my disgust that my horse was not even 

 mentioned in the betting, as several well-known per- 

 formers were entered. So little, indeed, was Moon- 

 liijht thouofht of that the man who drew his number 

 in the lottery the night before sold me his chance for 

 a single gold mohr, which was only half the price of 

 a ticket. However, I was not discouraged, and in 

 spite of the sneers of the knowing ones, I backed my 

 horse to win 5,000 rupees, easily getting 25 to 1. 



' Having paid considerable attention to my toilet. 



