STARTING. 21 



meu who surrounded us, and soou thouglit that we saw a good 

 deal to confirm this suspicious view of tlie event about to come 

 off. 



But nothing takes the verj^ knowing ones in on any race 

 course like a Ijit of simple straightforward honesty. The most 

 prominent feature on the ground was a man in an auctioneer's 

 pulpit, gibbering away about something, and Avho, we were told, 

 was getting bids or deposits against the mare, or against time. 

 With a little assistance from an interpreter, we understood that 

 time was the favourite, and that the mare was little trusted. 



38. — The course was a half mile circle, of hard binding sand, 

 kept just wet enough to keep down dust, and on which no visible 

 impression was made by the foot or wheels. The sulky was two 

 light high wheels, with a pair of very light shafts, and just seat 

 enough built on them to hold one man. No springs were wanted 

 on such a road. 



The mare was a common-looking little chestnut, under 

 fifteen hands, and a close set, rather than a reachy-looking 

 animal : and yet there was much about her that reminded us of 

 the description which Frank Forester's correspondent gives of old 

 Messenger himself. There were especially the double-sized 

 nostrils and wind pipe, the low wither, yet deep chest, with strong 

 loins and hind quarters. 



She seemed under no excitement, yet extraordinary provisions 

 were being made to hold her back. Another sulky, with a light- 

 headed, long-legged horse, was placed in front of her ; and as her 

 driver took his seat he wound a rein round each hand as if pre- 

 paring to be drawn entirely by the mare's mouth. The horse 

 before her started off at a gallop, the mare soon did the same, and 

 much time was lost in pulling her into a trot. This was repeated 

 again and again, and, as the first mile had occupied nearly four 

 minutes, a shout of derisive laughter ran through the crowd, as if 

 the whole thing had been settled against the mare. It was, how- 

 ever, soon understood that the race was not yet begun, and that 

 time would not be cried until the mare had settled, down to her 

 work. This was not done for another mile or two, and when time 

 was cried she was boring her head almost through the frail sulky 



