Page:The writings in prose and verse of Rudyard Kipling (IA cu31924057346631).pdf/44

 And the rest of the field followed after. They were old and wiser, perhaps&mdash; For we flew over tats at the nullahs, but they scrambled through by the gaps.

Away like a bird went the Arab&mdash;head and tail in the air, which is wrong: For a pig-sticker worthy his salt looks down as he gallops along; And the Arab was new to the business. What wonder that Cheltenham fell In the grip of a buffalo-wallow, and sat down to rest him a spell? Then Rugby shot forward the first of us three, for to reason it stands That a coachy Artillery charger has the legs of a mere fourteen-hands.

But he jinked, and the Waler went wide; but the country-breds wheeled and we flew O'er the treacherous black-cotton furrows&mdash;spears up, riding all that we knew. Now, a beast with a mouth like a brickbat can't turn to a turn of the wrist&mdash; And the Waler took furlongs to turn in; and the rest of the run Rugby missed. So we shed him and spread him and left him, after manifold jinkings and chouses, And the issue was narrowed to this: "Ride, boys, for the love of your Houses!" 24