"Let us first of all take a turn round the race-course," said Tara, as the trio pranced out of the compound—the lady riding a beautiful bay Arab, Tom a sturdy New Zealand cob, and the guest a fine stud-bred from Ossour.
"Race-course!" he echoed, "I did not think there was one nearer than Bangalore."
"But there is," replied the girl, "and what is more, I will race you from the stand to the red Sawmy stone; it is exactly one mile."
"All right," he agreed, "it's a match!"
"The General remembered the whereabouts," explained Tom, "and got the course a bit cleared for us to exercise on—but it's little better than the ordinary maidan, though it has no nullahs, and not many holes."
"Sounds like good going!" rejoined Mallender, with a laugh, "You'll let me know when we come to it, won't you?"
This information was necessary, as the course was but vaguely indicated by a few scattered white posts.
"Here we are," suddenly announced Tara, "that big mound you see over there, was once the grand stand—shall we make it the starting-post? Tom, you can start us!"
The trio trotted across the lumpy ground to the so-called "post," and after a short delay Tom gave a shrill whistle, and the match commenced. Sepoy, the stud-bred, was boisterously fresh; he bucked and did his best to get his head down, but it was no use—on this occasion he had a master on his back—and presently gave up the struggle, and settled into his stride. He was fast, the blood of Orme was in his veins, and he had the legs of the bounding bay Arab. As the riders galloped along, the cool morning wind blowing past their ears sang a gay duet with the thudding hoofs; and Mallender felt roused to real enjoyment. After all, his wanderings had now and then one bright moment,—a few gleams of compensation, such as this! Finally the brown won with ridiculous ease, passing the post ten lengths ahead of Rustum.
"Oh, dear, so you've beaten us!" and Rustum's rider, looking rather crestfallen, her linen habit spattered with foam, joined Mallender. "I have always beaten Tom!" she gasped out breathlessly.