MILITARY STEEPLECHASING 59 



and made sure that there was nothing in my get-up 

 likely to invite criticism or betray greenness, I made 

 my way to the weighing-room, where, without saddle 

 and bridle, I pulled down very little over eight stone 

 and a half, being only a couple of pounds over weight ; 

 for I received seven pounds, my horse never having 

 run in a previous race, whilst winners had to carry 

 seven pounds extra. 



' These arrangements were hardly settled when 

 the bugle for saddling sounded, and, having seen to 

 this myself, I mounted for the preliminary canter. 

 As I rode slowly past the stand, in which all the 

 beauty and aristocracy of the cantonment were 

 assembled, a waving of handkerchiefs attracted my 

 attention, and there were " the Mna " and her party 

 arrayed in light blue (my colours), whilst another, 

 who, in my opinion, was quite as fair, looked 

 "unutterable things." Moonlight was in the best 

 of tempers, and, although a dark horse, attracted 

 considerable attention, for his coat shone like velvet, 

 showing his condition. His appearance was hailed 

 with a shout by some of the soldiers who recognised 

 me ; and an Irish sergeant roared out, " Sure, it's 

 the little black captain that'll show 'em the way 

 entirely, for my month's pay ! " 



6 After the preliminary canter we took our sta- 

 tions, and seven horses came to the post. I kept 

 behind a short distance until I saw the others were 

 ready, for I wished to keep Moonlight from becom- 



