cii. XIX.] A Tivclvc Mile Gallop. 65 



it was impossible they should allow us to go alone. 

 But Hagar had quite other ideas, and after the first 

 two miles they dropped behind and were lost to 

 sight. And now began the longest gallop I ever 

 took in my life. It was fifteen miles to Arak, and 

 we never drew rein till we got to the foot of the 

 hill behind which the village stands. Wilfrid was 

 resolved to try what Tamarisk could do, and rode 

 her himself, leaving Hagar to me. For the first 

 few miles my mare behaved very well, going on at 

 her easy stride without any unnecessary hurry, and 

 allowing Tamarisk to keep up more or less beside 

 her, but after this, although she was not in the 

 least excited, she would not be kept at any reason- 

 able pace. She does not mind uneven ground full 

 of jerboa holes, and went faster and faster, till 

 soon Tamarisk and Wilfrid were as much out of the 

 race as the soldiers were, and yet she would not 

 be steadied. It was only when we came to the hills 

 and very broken stony ground, fully twelve miles 

 from where we had started, that I got a pull at 

 her and at last stopped her. It was by this time 

 daylight, and I got ofi* and waited till Tamarisk 

 appeared toiling along gamely behind. She had 

 been what is called " ridden " every inch of the 

 way, and yet she was not really tired, only Hagar's 

 speed had been altogether too much for her. We 

 were just forty-five minutes doing these twelve 

 miles, and Wilfrid and I are in such excellent con- 

 dition that we did not in the least feel our gallop. 



