254 EACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



packed. On the opposite side tlie rails are 

 thickly lined, and Trundle Hill, at the end of the 

 course, has swarms of people on it, reaching in 

 groups half-way to the summit. The north- 

 country horse is a decided favourite as the 

 starter takes the field in hand. His red flag 

 falls, the white advance flag is lowered, and 

 the five are despatched on their journey. The 

 American mare rushes to the front, and leads 

 the field a merry dance down the straight, past 

 the paddock, the stands, and the lawn ; her 

 level, easy stride seems to take so little out of 

 her that many begin to wonder whether she may 

 not win after all. So the field turn out into the 

 country, sweep round the hill, and for a few 

 seconds are lost to sight, the American chestnut 

 still well in advance. But when they reappear 

 at the top of the hill and enter the straight for 

 home, good glasses show that the American has 

 had quite enough of it. The favourites rush to 

 the front, the chocolate, yellow sleeves and dark- 

 blue, silver braid come on together, side by side 

 with the magpie jacket ; behind them the others, 

 dropping further and further into the rear. The 

 partisans of the mare and the horse shout their 

 hardest, but for the mare shouts are unavailing. 

 It is too pleasantly evident to backers of the 

 northern colt, and too painfully plain to those 



