134 EACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



knack of slipping away from a fence with gallop 

 apparently undisturbed as the little brown horse 

 had done ; but thongh a pink, a green, and a 

 straw jacket had disappeared, and Playfellow was 

 being trotted and walked home over the fields, 

 the race was still open. Black and gold seams, 

 Equinox, was hopelessly in the rear, and Post 

 Horn seemed to be retiring to join him, while 

 The Countess led, followed by Bay Bessie, Bed 

 Kover, Heartsease, and Witchcraft. To Mabel 

 the moments seemed hours, though the pace 

 had improved, and red, white, and cherry caps 

 went up and down as the fences were reached 

 and jumped. 



Coming to the rails a second time. The 

 Countess rose feebly and landed in a heap, but 

 four of the now diminished field struggled on, 

 Witchcraft well ahead. Bound they come, and 

 there are now only tw^o fences and the run 

 in, and Mabel's heart beats desperately hard. 

 Clive is last of the four. Why does he not whip 

 his horse and pass his enemies ? Mabel, in- 

 experienced in race-riding, anxiously wonders, 

 and the hand which Lady Selstead has held out 

 to her is tightly grasped by the girl's trembling 

 fingers. Over the last fence but one, and Clive 

 jumps it level with Bay Bessie, behind Witch- 

 craft and Bed Bover, and immediately after the 



