It has fallen." "Can you find it ?" "Yes; but I can ride as well without it.

Let us push on." "Very good.

I can just see you now." They had galloped for about five minutes in this fashion, De Catinat's horse's head within a few feet of the other's tail, when there was a second snap, and the guardsman rolled out of the saddle on to the ground.

He kept his grip of the reins, however, and was up in an instant at his horse's head, sputtering out oaths as only an angry Frenchman can.
"A thousand thunders of heaven!" he cried.

"What was it that happened then ?" "Your leather has gone too." "Two stirrup leathers in five minutes?
It is not possible." "It is not possible that it should be chance," said the American gravely, swinging himself off his horse.