Bertha Brokaw was the first of the three girls to go over the third hurdle. Bab was close behind her.
Barbara had just risen in her saddle. "Go it, Beauty!" she whispered, gently.
At this instant, Maud Warren gave a smart cut to her horse and crossed immediately in front of Bab.
Beauty reared on her hind feet. Barbara and the horse swayed an instant in the air.
Miss Stuart rose from the chair where she sat. Mrs. Morton gave a gasp. A sudden terror shook all the spectators. Poor Mollie turned sick and faint. She imagined her beloved Bab crushed beneath a falling horse.
But Barbara was not conscious of anything but Beauty. As her little horse rose trembling on its hind feet Bab remembered to keep her reins slack. With one pull on the horse's tender mouth, she and Beauty would have gone over backwards.
"Steady, Beauty! Steady!" she cried. The horse ceased to tremble, and a moment later stood on all four feet again.
In the meantime Maud Warren had cleared the third fence and was riding across the field. Not a sound of applause followed her. But as Beauty, with Barbara still cool and collected, sprang easily over the hurdle, loud applause rang out.
"Bully for Bab!" cried Ralph, shaking Ruth's hand in his excitement.
"What a trick! I didn't think Maud Warren capable of it," protested Dorothy to her father.
Bertha Brokaw's horse was tired. She did not finish the mile course.
Now again Barbara rode side by side with Miss Warren. Just before the last jump Bab reined in a little. She remembered the Ambassador's instructions. This was only a riding match, not a racing contest. No two girls were allowed to jump a hurdle at the same time.
So Barbara gave Maud Warren the first opportunity to make the jump. But Maud was nervous; she realized she had taken an unfair advantage of Bab. Her horse refused to jump. Bab waited only an instant. Then, urging Beauty on, they rose over their last hurdle like swallows.
Barbara came cantering back to her friends, her cheeks rosy, her eyes shining with delight.
Franz Heller rushed forward with a big bunch of American Beauty roses. Flowers were the only prizes given during the day. Barbara slid down off her horse.
The Ambassador moved forward to shake hands with her; Bab's friends were waving their handkerchiefs; but Bab had eyes for Beauty only. A stable boy had come to lead the horse away.