Atthesameinstant，underVronsky’seyes，rightbeforehimflashedthepalingsofthebarrier。Withouttheslightestchangeinheractionhismareflewoverit；thepalingsvanished，andheheardonlyacrashbehindhim。Themare，excitedbyGladiator’skeepingahead，hadrisentoosoonbeforethebarrier，andgrazeditwithoneofherhindhoofs。Butherpaceneverchanged，andVronsky，feelingaspatterofmudinhisface，realizedthathewasoncemorethesamedistancefromGladiator。Oncemoreheperceivedinfrontofhimthesamebackandshorttail，andagainthesameswiftlymovingwhitelegsthatgotnofurtheraway。
AttheverymomentwhenVronskythoughtthatnowwasthetimetoovertakeMakhotin，Frou-Frouherself，understandinghisthoughts，withoutanyincitementonhispart，gainedconsiderably，andbegangettingalongsideofMakhotinonthemostfavorableside，closetotheinnerrope。Makhotinwouldnotletherpassthatside。Vronskyhadhardlyformedthethoughtthathecouldperhapspassontheouterside，whenFrou-Froushiftedherpaceandbeganovertakinghimontheotherside。Frou-Frou’sshoulder，beginningbynowtobedarkwithsweat，wasevenwithGladiator’sback。
Forafewboundstheymovedevenly。Butbeforetheobstacletheywereapproaching，Vronskybeganworkingatthereins，anxioustoavoidhavingtotaketheoutercircle，andswiftlypassedMakhotinjustuponthedeclivity。Hecaughtaglimpseofhismud-stainedfaceasheflashedby。Heevenfanciedthathesmiled。VronskypassedMakhotin，buthewasimmediatelyawareofhimcloseuponhim，andheneverceasedhearingjustbehindhimtheeven-thuddinghoofsandtherapidandstillquitefreshbreathingofGladiator。
Thenexttwoobstacles，thewatercourseandthebarrier，wereeasilycrossed，butVronskybegantohearthesnortingandthudofGladiatorcloseruponhim。Heurgedonhismare，andtohisdelightfeltthatsheeasilyquickenedherpace，andthethudofGladiator’shoofswasagainheardatthesamedistanceaway。
Vronskywasattheheadoftherace，justashewantedtobeandasCordhadadvised，andnowhefeltsureofbeingthewinner。Hisexcitement，hisdelight，andhistendernessforFrou-Frougrewkeenerandkeener。Helongedtolookround，buthedidnotdaredothis，andtriedtobecoolandnottourgeonhismare，soastokeepthesamereserveofforceinherashefeltthatGladiatorstillkept。Thereremainedonlyoneobstacle，themostdifficult；ifhecouldcrossitaheadoftheothers，hewouldcomeinfirst。HewasflyingtowardtheIrishbarricade；Frou-Frouandhebothtogethersawthebarricadeinthedistance，andboththemanandthemarehadamoment’shesitation。Hesawtheuncertaintyinthemare’searsandliftedthewhip，butatthesametimefeltthathisfearsweregroundless；themareknewwhatwaswanted。Shequickenedherpaceandroserhythmically，justashehadfanciedshewould，andassheleftthegroundgaveherselfuptotheforceofherrush，whichcarriedherfarbeyondtheditch；andwiththesamerhythm，withouteffort，withthesamelegforward，Frou-Froufellbackintoherpaceagain。