Page:Maud Howe - A Newport Aquarelle.djvu/67

 Charles Farwell's ponies. They were two sturdy little mustangs, with short cropped manes, and legs bandaged to the body for protection against the blows of the mallets. One of his side told him that the match would not begin for a quarter of an hour, and Larkington took this opportunity of examining the ground which was soon to be turned into a battle-field. He had played polo in England and in Nice, but he affirmed to the men in the tent "that this ground beat all the others he had ever seen, hollow."

The large space of turf, which was outlined by strips of whitewash, marking the boundaries of the polo ground, was emerald green.

Outside of these lines was a wide driveway, with room enough for three or four carriages to stand abreast. A high fence surrounded the driveway, which was on this afternoon filled with carriages of every description.

The north side was reserved for the coaches,