THE HUMOURS OF THE RACECOURSE 93 



accident would occur ; and lie was right in Lis sur- 

 mise, as the straining animal kept within the limits 

 of the post and rail. At the fatal turn the owner 

 was posted on a pony, who joined his horse in a 

 gallop for a few yards, until they got into straight 

 running. During the first round it was, in the 

 phraseology of the ring, Windsor Castle to an Irish 

 bothie, Gibraltar to a martello tower, Niagara to a 

 Parisian house-gutter, the prairie to Hampstead 

 Heath, or any other comparison that may arise in 

 the imaginative mind of the reader, in favour of my 

 adversary. " He'll never catch him ; " " The Yankee 

 has taken the lead, and will keep it ; " " We're done 

 brown ; " " The Stars and Stripes have it easy." 

 Such were the expressions of the mob ; all seemed 

 over except the paying and receiving of the stakes 

 and bets. Could I have been transported to the 

 corner of the grand stand, other and more cheering 

 remarks would have greeted my ear, and consoled 

 me for the shouts of derision that awaited me as I 

 sat quite steady on my horse some yards behind my 

 leader. " Douro will win ! " exclaimed a gallant 

 colonel, the confidential friend of the Governor- 

 General. " The Eagle is gradually falling back ; " 

 and such proved to be the case. Fearing to upset 

 my horse, I found that, without increasing the pace, 

 I was gradually getting nearer to the flyer. " Sit 

 still and you will win ! " shouted a well-known voice 

 when we were about half a mile from home. This 



