Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 126.djvu/314

302 about half-a-dozen horses to run abreast, the spectators would have as close a view of the scene as could be desired. The direction of the running was from right to left, or in the opposite order to the movement of the hands of a clock, and there were altogether nine jumps; first, a couple of hedges, which were in fact hurdles covered with bushes; then the mud wall, with a little grip on the further side from which the material to build it had been taken; then another hedge; then a hedge with a small ditch on either side; then a ditch with a bank beyond; then two more hedges or hurdles; lastly the water-jump, the only really stiff thing in the course — a low bank topped with a hedge, and a wet and broad ditch beyond. This was about fifty yards short of the grand stand and winning-post, so that the horse first over would probably win. The ditch was in fact only a shallow trench about eighteen inches deep, but which might have been eighteen feet from the look of the thing, although to retain it even at that depth in the sandy soil involved a constant supply of water, and the station water-carts were at work up to the last moment before the race. The course, sparsely covered with grass, was perfectly level throughout, and the fences standing up naked on the plain seemed calculated to invite the horses on the outside to swerve to the right or left.

And now the six horses having taken their preliminary canter, including the conventional leap over the first fence and back again, have come back to the starting-post opposite the stand, with their backs to the wet ditch; and all except Roostum being perfectly steady, the start is soon effected, and away they go at the signal, a little cloud of dust rising from their hoofs. Chestnut horses, and especially chestnut Arabs, are proverbially impetuous, and the noble Roostum was no exception to the rule. He was hard to hold when going alone; but the clatter of five other horses galloping alongside is altogether too much, and in a few seconds he breaks away at full speed, nose high in air, his rider lying back in the saddle and in vain trying to hold him in. This attitude is not favourable for steeple-chasing; Roostum crashes through the first fence without attempting to rise to it, tearing a gap about thirty feet wide, through which the others follow at a more leisurely pace, and he gets through the second in the same way; but this mode of dealing with the wall is not equally successful. Charging that in the same blind way, the gallant chestnut rolls over heavily on the other side, shooting his rider still further forward. Fortunately the race committee, with considerate forethought, had ploughed up the light soil beyond the wall, so that Mr. Scurry sustains no serious injury, although unable to proceed with the race; and he has left the others so much behind that they have time to avoid riding over him as they clear the wall, which they all do except Sentry, whose rider taking the outside, goes so temptingly close to the end of the obstacle that the horse swerving evades it altogether, and Mr. Stride, after two or three ineffectual efforts to made him face it again, is forced to give up.

The competitors are now reduced to four. Veteran takes up the running, and although not going the pace with which Scurry led off, Mr. Gowett is evidently trying to cut the others down. Next comes Chupkin on Laura, which had blundered at the wall, although getting over safely; next our friend Yorke; Egan bringing up the rear some way behind. So far Yorke feels that he has got along well; the pace is faster than he expected, but the little grey took the wall beautifully. The next fence, another covered hurdle, is a mere joke for all the horses. The double ditch and hedge is more formidable, but again they all get over. Next comes the ditch and bank, and Mr. Gowett pulling up Veteran to an easy canter, the old horse jumps cleverly on to the bank and down the other side. Chupkin, who goes at it full gallop, is less fortunate; his horse blunders at the top and falls: again the friendly plough averts further disaster.

Yorke cannot afford to pull up for the ditch and bank, lest Gowett should be left with too long a lead, so drives the grey at it, who clears the jump in his stride, thereby gaining considerably on Veteran. The mare also gets over all right, and the three are then left in the race. There now remain only two hedges and the water-jump; but the old horse still leads by some lengths, and Yorke knows that as far as galloping goes his own has no chance against it. Egan also seems to have played a waiting game too long; he has been creeping up latterly, but is still some distance behind; there is only a quarter of a mile left, and if Veteran gets over his jumps he must win. But here fortune comes to the rescue; the last hedge had been put up 