So it was with the wild horse.

He did not stumble--he was too sure of foot for that--but his head was occasionally thrown to one side, until his large dark eye commanded a view of his enemy behind him.

This, of course, to some extent, retarded him.

It was only at these moments that Basil could gain upon him; and the proofs he thus gave of his superior powers, only rendered the latter the more eager to capture and possess him.
After a long chase the distance between them was still two hundred paces at the least.

The young hunter, with a feeling of impatience, once more plied the spur in a fresh effort to come up; while the other seemed to spring forward as swiftly as ever.
All at once Basil observed that the white steed, instead of running straight forward, appeared to go from side to side, moving in crooked lines! Basil saw this with surprise.