it gave me courage for those that were to come later. One more
fence, and then came the jump right in front of the verandah which did
duty as a stand, and I held my breath as the horses came up to it in a
lump, except the big grey, which was leading by about a length. Quite
plainly I saw him, and he was pulling double, but Paul sat like a rock,
slightly leaning forward, true bushman as he was, and the old horse
jumped beautifully, and got away with a clear lead of about six lengths
ahead. I put my arm round the verandah post, for I felt I could hardly
stand without support. Speak I could not; all sorts of hopes and fears
were madly coursing through my brain, and I listened as a woman beside
me put my thoughts into words.

"Oh," she said, with a long-drawn breath, "what an awful pace! And
they've got to go round again, too! That horse in front will be done
before they've gone much farther."

"Not much," said the man on the other side, scornfully, "that big grey
can keep it up for a week. He's all there as long as Griffith can keep
him quietly in front. Oh, he's a beautiful jumper, he is, when he's
properly ridden, but he's got the devil's own temper. Go it, old pard!
go it!" he shouted again, and his enthusiasm gave me such comfort, I
would have thanked him had I dared speak.

All around the course I watched them, and at every fence my heart gave
a bound of thankfulness as I heard the man beside me shouting hurrahs at
Boatman's success. Gladder and gladder I grew, and nothing else in the
world mattered to me so long as the big grey was still sailing along,
even that he was ahead gave me only a momentary joy, so thankful was I
that he was still safe, and likely to be safe.

"He's the best rider that ever I seed, Jim, sure," said the woman beside
me, and I could have kissed her for the praise.

"Best rider this side of the Murray," said the man laconically, and
Hope, Hope, before me stretched my future, bright, and happy, and
smiling, such happiness as I had never dared dream would come into my
life. A horse fell, another refused; what was it to me? There was Paul
still ahead. Then, at the other side of the course, he was joined by
Mick Power's Bangle, and another that I did not recognize, and Vixen's
yellow and black stripes went up to within a couple of lengths of the
leaders, and a length behind her came the ruck.

"Ah! I told you so," sighed the woman, "they 've collared 'im. Boatman's
beat."

"The race's a gi