164 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



played an equal quantity of loud blue and white. 

 Of the jackets and caps I will say nothing ; they 

 were in perfect keeping with tops and breeches. 

 One gentleman, in a splendid scarlet jacket, was 

 standing against the weighing stand, with a 

 bottle of smelling-salts to his nose ; and on my 

 asking him what was the matter was he ill ?' 

 he replied, in pretty good English, " No, mon- 

 sieur, but I feels an emo-ti-on a leetle faints. 

 Anglaish sportsmans are more use to de hurdles, 

 race. Mon Dieu ! but it will be runs fast to- 

 day." 



At last we are mounted ; the bell has rang 

 for the last time ; our preparatory canters have 

 been taken; and we are in line. The polite 

 Sous prefet is coming round to us, hat in 

 hand, asking us to draw for our places, 

 which we do, and change accordingly. Now 

 all is in readiness. " Etes-vous prets, mes- 

 sieurs" shouts the starter, flag in hand. 

 "Allez!" 



We are off like a shot, I cutting out the 

 running at a tremendous pace. My horse threw 

 up the hard sand behind him in a manner that 

 could not have been very pleasant to those in 



