They were just reaching the dammed-up stream on their way to the starting point.

Several of the riders were in front and several behind, when suddenly Vronsky heard the sound of a horse galloping in the mud behind him, and he was overtaken by Mahotin on his white-legged, lop-eared Gladiator.

Mahotin smiled, showing his long teeth, but Vronsky looked angrily at him.

He did not like him, and regarded him now as his most formidable rival.