Page 156 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

distance between them, Gladiator flew rit tae hurdle, gave a whisk of
his tail, and* without having touched the hun:llos vanished Fom
Vronsky’s eyes*
“ Bravo! '' cried a voice.
At the same instant the plonks of the hurdle flashed before his eyes,
liis horse leaped without breaking; bid he heard bebin:l him a loud
crash. Frou-l’rou, excited by the sight of Gladiator, liad leaped too
soon, and had struck the hurdle with the dices 011 her hind Iect. Her
ir;dt was unchanged; and the distance had not increased or diminished
*
0
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between them, as 7ronsky again caught a glimpse of Gladiator's
crupper, his short tail and Jus white leet, Frou-Frou senna! to have
the same thought as her master, for she increased her speed and
gained on Mnkhotin. by trying to take the inside trade. Tiul Makhotin
did not yield the advantage, Frou-Frou changed and took the farther
side of the slope. Her shoulder cVised with Gladiator's hanks. Fot
a few seconds t hey flew along almost side by side; bet: in order to take
the outer side of the circle, Vronsky urged Frou-Frou on just as they
1 ■>asse1.1 the di i de, and on th c descent n i anaged to gct. lhe 1 eaci, A s 1 le
drew near, it seemed to him Makhotin smiled, Though be was
behind, Vronsky could hear {.he regular rhythm of the stallion's feet
and his burned breathing.
The next two obstacles, the ditch and the hurdle, were easily passed ;
but: Gladiator's gallop came nearer. Vronsky gave Froti Frou tJie
spur; the sound of Gladiator’s hoof-heats grew hunter. He now had
the lead and felt sure of success. A single serious obstacle remained
— the Irish bancuctte— which, if cleared, would five him the victorv.
i ■ ■ i J>
Vronsky was just lifdug his whip, when it occurred to him thnt Frou-
Frou knew what 1o do, The beautiful creature gave a start, rose from
die ground, cleared the ditch, and far bcvond, then fell again into the
j 11 eas 11 re o f 1 e r pa cc.
“ Bravo! B !'avy ! ’r cried the throng.
The last ditch was left. Anxious to come in far ahead of the oLhers,
Vronsky began to urge his horse by falling into her motions, and lean­
ing far over her head. He felL sure she was befir.nin^ to be exhausted ; s
i?
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