MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 157 



At the word " Off ! " a fair start was effected. 

 The bay, however, had hardly taken a dozen 

 strides, when it came down, giving the rider an 

 ugly fall. After rolling over, it sat up like a dog, 

 and stared wildly about ; then, jumping up suddenly, 

 galloped into the sea, where it lay down, apparently 

 with the intention of committing suicide. Before 

 we had gone a mile, all the other horses were 

 shaken off, and the priest's jockey and myself had 

 it all to ourselves. He was a knowing old fellow, 

 and evidently did not wish to distress his horse, 

 keeping only a few lengths ahead, until within the 

 distance-post, when he let him go, cantering in a 

 winner by about twenty yards, and receiving a 

 perfect ovation from the people. 



In half an hour the bugle sounded for the horses 

 to fall in for the race. A steeple-chase being 

 always the great event on an Irish course, we were 

 about to take our places, when Dick came up with 

 rather a long face, and whispered — 



" I am afraid the luck is against us still, Frank. 

 Look at that gray. He has been kept dark until 

 now. Before seeing him I backed you rather 

 heavily with the priest. It was our only chance 

 to get out." 



The more I looked the less I liked the appear- 

 ance of either horse or man. To a casual observer 



