2o8 ' Indian Racing Reminiscences. 



plain snaffle. I was obliged to pull her into a canter on 

 coming to an obstacle, and then make up the lost ground 

 between the fences. As Mr. Gubbins knew that I had 

 the speed of him, he used to get alongside me when 

 coming up to a fence, and then make Vesper refuse in 

 front of Lady Jane, who, on that provocation, used to 

 " run out " and carry me away for some distance, before 

 I could get her round again and over, while Mr. Gubbins 

 used to turn Vesper, who was a very handy mare, sharp 

 round, take the fence, and go away as hard as he could. 

 When I caught him up he used to try on the same game. 

 About a mile from home I slipped him and got awa}' in 

 front. When I was fairly in the straight, and had onl\' 

 one hurdle, which was a couple of hundred yards distant, 

 to clear, we were joined by all the Serjeants and corporals 

 of Mr. Leach's Battery, who were mounted on their 

 troopers, and had come out to see their young officer's 

 mare win. The sight of her companions and the clatter 

 around her was too much for her excitable nerves, so 

 she tore away, and I never got a pull at her until she had 

 eone about three miles off in the direction of Lucknow, 

 which was at about an angle of forty-five degrees to the 

 line of the flags. " Give me a bit and a bridoon," as 

 Captain Papillon used to say. 



