THE MORNING GALLOP 103 



good long distance away, to eventually reach us and 

 pass on to the finish. 



On this Thursday Watercress jumped off the mark 

 with any amount of fire and dash, while Orme started 

 more soberly. There was a period of no small anxiety 

 as they neared the turn, for a flock of sheep had strayed 

 apparently all over the track ; but this was an optical 

 delusion, though the boy in charge of the unconscious 

 muttons had got them a good deal too near, as you 

 could judge by the way some went scampering off when 

 horses came past. 



It is a severe gallop this mile and six furlongs, and 

 even at a good half speed it takes some doing. We 

 stood about two furlongs from the end and, as the 

 horses passed us, Watercress was stretching along in 

 fine style, but Orme was by this time revelling in his 

 work, reaching out at his bit, and half fighting for his 

 head, while, again, his hind action struck me as magni- 

 ficent. The Duke and Lord Marcus cantered off to 

 see them pull up, and thus missed seeing La Fleche 

 gallop. Sir George Maude, of course, stayed for this, 

 and it was worth seeing too. Trapezoid brought her 

 along at a good pace, and it is really extraordinary 

 that a mare of La Fleche's size and scope should cover 

 such a distance of ground in her stride. She pulled 

 up close by us, fresh and well, and but for lathering 

 a little between the thighs, showed no indication of 

 having done more than the merest exercise canter. 



On rejoining the others we found Watercress also 

 lathering just a little in the same way, but Orme had 

 not turned a hair. After this the rest of the string 

 cantered, and so the morning's work ended. 



Later in the morning the opportunity was kindly 



