THE DEAD HEAT 107 



his voice to a whisper) one if not tivo WATER-jumps ; 

 if anything will stop Mad Moll it is water." 



*' It shall be done," said the Colonel ; " I'll see 

 that the lad is not taken advantage of." And the 

 old field-officer kept his word, as will be seen in 

 the sequel. 



O'Rooney was greatly disturbed when he knew 

 there were to be one or more water-jumps. He 

 fought hard and gallantly against it ; but the Colonel 

 was obdurate. " By Gad, sir," said he, " you do 

 not want it entirely your own way, do you ? I 

 have not interfered with the country in any way. 

 I have said nothing as to the six-foot wall you have 

 built up, and others equally dangerous, and now you 

 cavil at a paltry ditch." 



" Ditch do ye call it, Colonel ? fifteen feet of 

 water, hurdled and staked, a ditch, and another of 

 eleven. By my troth, no such like ditches are found 

 between this and Ballinasloe. But never mind. 

 Glory be to Moses, I'll get over them. And then, 

 h — 11 to my soul, if the English horse will ever 

 come near Mad Moll's girths again." 



" We think nothing of nineteen feet, sir," said 

 the Colonel. " In England, fifteen feet is nothing ; 

 but my youngster shall have a chance." 



Great was the excitement throughout the country 

 — indeed, in all parts of Ireland. Such a match 



