MY FIRST AND LAST STEEPLE-CHASE 159 



like a set of Bedlamites let loose. With the 

 exception of the last fence, there were no very 

 formidable obstacles. It was a stone wall, fully 

 five feet high, built up loose, but strong, and rather 

 a severe trial at the end of a race, if the pace was 

 a stiff one throughout. There was no time for 

 thinking now, however. The word was given, and 

 we were away. 



About a dozen horses started — all fair animals, 

 with that cat-like activity in negotiating a fence so 

 remarkable in Irish hunting. We had hardly gone 

 a mile, however, when the want of condition began 

 to tell, and they fell hopelessly to the rear, leaving 

 the race to the gray, my mare, and a game little 

 thorough-bred, ridden and owned by one of the 

 dragoon officers. 



Up to this time I had followed Dick's directions 

 to wait on the gray, a proceeding evidently not 

 approved of by the rider, for, turning round in his 

 saddle as he came down to a water jump, he said, 

 with a sneer — 



" You want a lead over, I suppose." 



I made no reply, and he went at the river ; but 

 whether by accident or design, when within a few 

 yards of the brink his horse bolted, clashing in 

 among the crowd. The dragoon's swerved slightly 

 to follow ; the rider, however, would not be denied, 



