178 A MILITARY STEEPLE-CHASE 



giving him at the same time a slight touch with 

 the spur, he shot out completely — slipping the 

 Captain, passing the Carabinier, and getting head 

 and head with Vincent. Down the hill we 

 went as hard as we could, clearing the water 

 side by side. At the grip in the fields beyond 

 I gained slightly by not taking a steadier at Jerry, 

 trusting to his eyesight and cleverness to avoid 

 grief. 



As we got to the best fence, the ugly boundary 

 one, I did take a pull, the jump looking as nasty a 

 one as could well be picked out ; however, the old 

 horse did it safely, and Vincent and myself landed 

 side by side in the winning field, amidst most 

 tremendous shouting and cheering from our men, 

 who were standing as thick as thick could be on 

 each side of the course. 



The excitement was terrific as we came up, 

 apparently tied together, but giving Jerry a couple 

 of sharp cuts with the whip, I found my leg gradu- 

 ally passing Vincent's, until at length I was nearly 

 opposite his horse's head, and thus we passed the 

 winning post, to my great relief. I did not know 

 how much my opponent's horse had left in him, 

 and expected him to come up with a rush at the 

 last, in which case I doubted whether I should be 

 able to get anything more out of Jerry in time, as 



