can live through this quarter," said The Maltese Cat, "I sha'n't
care. Don't take it out of yourselves. Let them do the lathering."

So the ponies, as their riders explained afterwards, "shut-up." The
Archangels kept them tied fast in front of their goal, but it cost the
Archangels' ponies all that was left of their tempers; and ponies began
to kick, and men began to repeat compliments, and they chopped at the
legs of Who's Who, and he set his teeth and stayed where he was, and
the dust stood up like a tree over the scrimmage until that hot quarter
ended.

They found the ponies very excited and confident when they went to their
saises; and The Maltese Cat had to warn them that the worst of the game
was coming.

"Now we are all going in for the second time," said he, "and they are
trotting out fresh ponies. You think you can gallop, but you'll find you
can't; and then you'll be sorry."

"But two goals to nothing is a halter-long lead," said Kittiwynk,
prancing.

"How long does it take to get a goal?" The Maltese Cat answered. "For
pity's sake, don't run away with a notion that the game is half-won just
because we happen to be in luck now! They'll ride you into the grand
stand, if they can; you must not give 'em a chance. Follow the ball."

"Football, as usual?" said Polaris. "My hock's half as big as a
nose-bag."

"Don't let them have a look at the ball, if you can help it. Now leave
me alone. I must get all the rest I can before the last quarter."

He hung down his head and let all his muscles go slack, Shikast, Bamboo,
and Who's Who copying his example.

"Better not watch the game," he said. "We aren't playing, and we shall
only take it out of ourselves if we grow anxious. Look at the ground and
pretend it's fly-time."

They did their best, but it was hard advice to follow. The hooves were
drumming and the sticks were rattling all up and down the ground, and
yells of applause from the English troops told that the Archangels were
pressing the Skidars hard. The native soldiers behind the ponies groaned
and grunted, and said things in undertones, and presently they heard a
long-drawn shout and a clatter of hurrahs!

"One to the Archangels," said Shikast, without raising his head. "Time's
nearly up. Oh, my sire and dam!"

"Faiz-Ullah," said The Maltese Cat, "if you don't play to the last nail
in your shoes this time, I'll kick you on the ground before all the
other ponies."

"I'll do my best when my time