186 EACECOUESE AND COVEET SIDE. 



facing up the course towards the stand, and my 

 horse, shaking his bit and jerking at the reins, was 

 exhibiting an anxiety to be off, with which I had 

 no sympathy ; but as I felt it would be quite 

 useless for me to contend against his wishes on 

 the subject, I only made one desperate effort to 

 sit still, and gave his head ! 



He took two springs in advance, and — 

 stopped dead ! 



Stopped dead. Then made a few limping 

 hops forward, and was still. Before I had 

 reaHzed the position, Packenham and Dacre, 

 returning from their preliminary, and cantering 

 down to the starting-post, came up to where I 

 sat, contented but surprised. 



" By Jove ! stopped just as if he had been 

 shot ! " the former said to the groom, who came 

 out into the course to see what was the matter. 



The beast tried again to proceed, but the 

 effort was vain. 



" Broken down ! No go, sir," the man who 

 had saddled him said in tones of deep regret. 

 " I've been afraid of that leg for some time, but 

 Mr. Hugh would have it that it was nothing. It's 

 all up, sir, this journey, at any rate. Just the 

 way Mephistopheles went with me when I was 

 riding him at Liverpool — shot his fetlock joint, 

 he did." 



