Pagina 549 di 2288

Gladiator and Diana came up to it together and almost at the same

instant; simultaneously they rose above the stream and flew

across to the other side; Frou-Frou darted after them, as if

flying; but at the very moment when Vronsky felt himself in the

air, he suddenly saw almost under his mare's hoofs Kuzovlev, who

was floundering with Diana on the further side of the stream.

(Kuzovlev had let go the reins as he took the leap, and the mare

had sent him flying over her head.) Those details Vronsky learned

later; at the moment all he saw was that just under him, where

Frou-Frou must alight, Diana's legs or head might be in the way.

But Frou-Frou drew up her legs and back in the very act of

leaping, like a falling cat, and, clearing the other mare,

alighted beyond her.

"O the darling!" thought Vronsky.