larger share, in various forms of accident and misfortune, might be seen
either struggling in the brook, or endeavoring to rescue their horses
from the danger of broken legs and backs.

I did not wait to watch them; my interest was in those who gallantly
led onward, and who now, some four in number, rode almost abreast. Among
these, my favorite was the sky-blue jacket who had led the way over the
dyke; and him did I follow with straining eyes and palpitating heart.
They were at this moment advancing towards a wall,--a high and strong
one, and I thought, in the slackened pace and more gathered-up stride, I
could read the caution a difficult leap enforced.

A brown jacket with white sleeves was the first to charge it; and after
a tremendous scramble, in which the wall, the horse, and the rider were
all tumbling together, he got over; but the animal went dead lame, and
the rider, dismounting, led him off the ground.

Next came blue-jacket; and just at the very rise his mare balked, and,
at the top of her speed, ran away along the side of the wall. A perfect
roar of angry disappointment arose from the multitude, for she was
the favorite of the country people, who were loudly indignant at this
mischance.

"The race is sold!" cried one.

"Beatagh"--this was the rider--"pulled her round himself! the mare
never was known to refuse a fence!"

"I say you're both wrong!" cried a third, whose excited manner showed
he was no indifferent spectator of the scene. "She never will take her
first wall fairly; after that she goes like a bird!"

"What a confounded nuisance to think that no one will lead her over the
fence! Is there not one here will show her the way?" said he, looking
around.

"There's the only fellow I see whose neck can afford it!" said another,
pointing to me. "He, evidently, was never born to be killed in a
steeplechase."

"Devilish well mounted he is, too!" remarked some one else.

"Hallo, my smart boy!" said he who before alluded to the mare as a
bolter, "try your nag over that wall yonder,--go boldly. Let her have her
head, and give her a sharp cut as she rises. Make way there, gentlemen!
Let the boy have fair play, and I 'll wager a five-pound note he does
it! You shall have half the stakes too, if you win!" added he. These
were the last words I heard; for the crowd, clearing in front, opened
for me to advance, and without a moment's hesitation of any kind, I
dashed my heels to the mare's flanks, and gal