His excitement, his delight, and his tenderness for Frou-Frou grew keener and keener.

He longed to look round again, but he did not dare do this, and tried to be cool and not to urge on his mare so to keep the same reserve of force in her as he felt that Gladiator still kept.

There remained only one obstacle, the most difficult; if he could cross it ahead of the others he would come in first.

He was flying towards the Irish barricade, Frou-Frou and he both together saw the barricade in the distance, and both the man and the mare had a moment's hesitation.