Soon afterwards the scarlet seemed to be making its way through
the horses, and was speedily leading them.
"Prothero is making the running with a vengeance," the Major said.
"That is not like his usual tactics, Doctor."
"I fancy he knows what he is doing," the Doctor replied. "He saw
that Mameluke's rider was going to make a waiting race of it, and
as the horse has certainly the turn of speed on him, he is trying
other tactics. They are passing the mile post now, and Prothero is
twelve or fourteen lengths ahead. There, Mameluke is going through
his horses; his rider is beginning to get nervous at the lead
Prothero has got, and he can't stand it any longer. He ought to
have waited for another half mile. You will see, Prothero will win
after all. Seila can stay, there is no doubt about that."
A roar of satisfaction rose from the mass of natives on the other
side of the inclosure as Mameluke was seen to leave the group of
horses and gradually to gain upon Seila.
"Oh, he will catch him, uncle!" Isobel said, tearing her handkerchief
in her excitement.
The Major was watching the horses through his field glass.
"Never mind his catching him," he said; "Prothero is riding quietly
and steadily. Seila is doing nearly her best, but he is not hurrying
her, while the fool on Mameluke is bustling the horse as if he had
only a hundred yards further to go."
The horses were nearing the point at which they had started, when
a shout from the crowd proclaimed that the blue jacket had come
up to and passed the scarlet.
Pages:
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128