Anecdotes of Former Days 247 



flag, and on arriving at the station found horses waiting 

 for them, 



" They at once galloped on to where they supposed 

 was the place, but mistaking a road-side station which was 

 three miles short of the proper distance for the turning- 

 post, they had to gallop on with the competitors, who 

 were only a few minutes later in reaching the same place. 

 They were going so fast that Mr. Eeade's horse, though a 

 fine one, and fresh, had to do all he could to keep up with 

 them. The time to the flag where they turned was 3 

 hours 10 minutes. 



" On arriving at the flag the Arab at once turned and 

 continued the ride homewards without stopping, while 

 Marsh pulled up, wisped his horse over and washed his 

 mouth out with gin and water, the horse immediately 

 taking advantage of his short rest to ease himself. 



" Both horses were, however, so fit that they had 

 hardly turned a hair. 



" When the Arab had got nearly a quarter of a mile 

 on his homeward journey, Marsh started again, and soon 

 catching up the Arab, they went on together. Mr. Eeade 

 returned to the train, but only arrived in Cairo about half 

 an hour before the Arab appeared by himself, having done 

 the distance a few minutes under seven hours, the English 

 horse having gone lame in one of his hind tendons about 

 eighteen miles from Cairo. 



" On approaching to within 300 yards from the 

 winning-post, the Arab raced in at the top of his speed, 

 on receiving a signal from Halim Pasha, and pulled up, 

 apparently fresh. The rider, when weighed in, was found 

 to have lost 2 lb. in weight, but Smart insisted on 

 Halim Pasha receivincj the stakes. 



