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After crossing the stream Vronsky had complete control of his

mare, and began holding her in, intending to cross the great

barrier behind Mahotin, and to try to overtake him in the clear

ground of about five hundred yards that followed it.

The great barrier stood just in front of the imperial pavilion.

The Tsar and the whole court and crowds of people were all gazing

at them-at him, and Mahotin a length ahead of him, as they drew

near the "devil," as the solid barrier was called. Vronsky was

aware of those eyes fastened upon him from all sides, but he saw

nothing except the ears and neck of his own mare, the ground

racing to meet him, and the back and white legs of Gladiator

beating time swiftly before him, and keeping always the same

distance ahead. Gladiator rose, with no sound of knocking against

anything. With a wave of his short tail he disappeared from

Vronsky's sight.

"Bravo!" cried a voice.