Once the mare put her foot in an ant-bear hole and nearly fell, but recovered herself--thanks be to God, unharmed--and I worked myself back into the saddle whence I had been almost shaken.

If I had fallen; oh! if I had fallen! We were near the end of the flat, and she began to fail.

I had over-pressed her; the pace was too tremendous.

Her speed lessened to an ordinary fast gallop as she faced the gentle rise that led to the brow.
And now, behind me, once more I heard the sound of the hoofs of the roan.

The tireless beast was coming up.