d. "Do
you know, Grace, I believe, I really believe he'll ride her!"

Lady Grace laughed scornfully.

"I have a year's allowance on already," she said, "so you had better
pray that he does. I think it is very absurd of you all," she added,
"because the Prince cares nothing for games, to conclude that he is any
the less likely to be able to do the things that a man should do. He
perhaps cannot ride about on a trained pony with a long stick and knock
a small ball between two posts, but I think that if he had to ride for
his own life or the life of others he would show you all something."

"They're off!" the Duke exclaimed.

They watched the first jump breathlessly. The Prince, riding a little
apart, simply ignored the hurdle, and the mare took it in her stride.
They turned the corner and faced an awkward post and rails. The leading
horse took off too late and fell. The Prince, who was close behind,
steered his mare on one side like lightning. She jumped like a cat,--the
Prince never moved in his seat.

"He rides like an Italian," Bransome declared, shutting up his glasses.
"There's never a thing in this race to touch him. I am going to see if I
can get any money on."

Another set of hurdles and then the field were out of sight. Soon they
were visible again in the valley. The Prince was riding second now.
Somerfield was leading, and there were only three other horses left.
They cleared a hedge and two ditches. At the second one Somerfield's
horse stumbled, and there was a suppressed cry. He righted himself
almost at once, however, and came on. Then they reached the water jump.
There was a sudden silence on the stand and the hillside. Somerfield
took off first, the Prince lying well away from him. Both cleared it,
but whereas Lady Grace's mare jumped wide and clear, and her rider never
even faltered in his saddle, Somerfield lost all his lead and only just
kept his seat. They were on the homeward way now, with only one more
jump, a double set of hurdles. Suddenly, in the flat, the Prince seemed
to stagger in his saddle. Lady Grace cried out.

"He's over, by Jove!" the Duke exclaimed. "No, he's righted himself!"

The Prince had lost ground, but he came on toward the last jump, gaining
with every stride. Somerfield was already riding his mount for all he
was worth, but the Prince as yet had not touched his whip. They drew
closer and closer to the jump. Once more the silence came. Then there
was a little cry,--both we