A MILITARY STEEPLE-CHASE 1 



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steadied took it fairly enough. Jerry jumped it as 

 coolly as possible, like the regular old stager that 

 he was, in spite of Captain Lane coming up at the 

 time with a great rush, evidently hoping to make 

 him refuse. 



When we landed on the other side a ludicrous 

 spectacle presented itself, the gallant " Gardener " 

 being right on his horse's neck, making frantic 

 attempts to get back into his saddle, which were 

 quite unsuccessful, and the horse coming to the 

 next fence, a post and rail, quietly took it standing, 

 then putting down his head slipped his rider off' 

 and galloped on without him. 



The field now began to come back to us very 

 quickly, and soon the leading lot were Vincent of 

 ours, a splendid rider, as I thought, and as it turned 

 out, my most dangerous opponent, with a Carabinier 

 in close attendance ; then myself, with Captain 

 Lane waiting on me, and watching the pair of us 

 most attentively, so that it seemed almost impossible 

 that I should have any chance of slipping him. 

 However, an opportunity did present itself at 

 length, which I took advantage of — hearing a horse 

 coming up a tremendous " rattle " on my right. 



I looked round to see who and what it was. 

 Lane, noticing what I was doing, looked round 

 too. Seeing this I loosed Jerry's head, and 



