" He's cleared it!" he thought, catching the thud of Gladiator's hoofs behind him.

There remained only the last ditch, filled with water and five feet wide.

Vronsky did not even look at it, but anxious to get in a long way first began sawing away at the reins, lifting the mare's head and letting it go in time with her paces.

He felt that the mare was at her very last reserve of strength; not her neck and shoulders merely were wet, but the sweat was standing in drops on her mane, her head, her sharp ears, and her breath came in short, sharp gasps.