Over the Fences at Fairyhouse 



tion shook him a bit. Steady him better and I'll give 

 you a lead. Come on, little girl, a sharp spurt and we'll 

 be over. Atta girl, atta girl, atta girl . . . Hip ! God 

 bless us ! Oblivion. 



Hello ! Is that you ? Listen a moment, do you 

 know anything about astronomy ? I've seen every star 

 in the firmament during the last five minutes. Doing 

 sixteen-hand reels they were. My back feels a bit damp. 

 Gosh ! it's the grass. Give us your hand, avick, till I 

 see where I am. Fairyhouse ! Did the Wards . . . 

 I mean the stag . . . What are you doing with two 

 horses, anyway ? Ugh ! I'm frozen. Come on, let's 

 get mounted. Now I remember. We'd better finish 

 the course. 



Gosh, if we'd been racing they'd have been leading 

 in the winner by now. Folk cheering madly aye, and 

 never a thought for the unfortunate riders who crashed. 

 That's life. The world has scant use for losers no 

 matter how gallantly they tried. 



Two more fences bring us to the entrance to the 

 straight. Now, you may let your Grey slip along and 

 see if you can win your half-crown. We have only been 

 travelling at little better than a fair hunting pace up to 

 this, but the going's perfect round this right-hand bend 

 and we may go slap-bang at the last three fences. We 

 jumped these before, by the way, so you should re- 

 member them. 



Bet you another half-crown I lick you ! Done ! 

 Every man for himself from now on. Eh ? You'll 



