216 A DAY WITH THE DRAG 



you just clear — and no more than just clear — of 

 the frowning and muddy stream just beyond. The 

 man on your left gets over also, but with one 

 hind leg dropped in : three come slashing over, 

 all right: then little Miff kins, in an agony of 

 incertitude, takes a pull at his horse when within 

 three lengths of where he should take off. Fatal 

 mistake ! for he merely succeeds in putting the 

 break on : the horse jumps short, and just 

 clearing the hurdles drops helplessly into the 

 turbid stream amid the ribald jeers and laughter 

 of the crowd assembled. Baulked by this contre- 

 tem]js the next horse refuses, and though ridden at 

 the obstacle again and again, resolutely persists in 

 remaining on the wrong side of the water. But 

 " forrard on, forrard on ! " Miffkins will get dry 

 again — he is not hurt, in the least — and his horse 

 will be taught an invaluable lesson in swimming. 

 The pack is still racing away half a field ahead, but 

 they are beginning to " string " a good deal now, 

 from the severity of the pace. And by the same 

 token, most of our good nags are obviously feeling 

 that this sort of fun can't go on for ever. My own 

 musical steed is, in especial, making the most 

 appalling observations on the subject as we breast 

 the next sharp slope. I feel, somehow, that he is 

 using the equinese for " Hang it all, you know, I'm 



