MY APPRENTICESHIP. 213 



riage. I could just discern her, though the evening was rather dark. 

 The carriage door was open, and in a moment she was seated by my 

 side in silence. My heart was too full, and my tongue refused to give 

 utterance to a single word. Tom was on his horses in an instant, and 

 we darted off more like an arrow shot from a bow than any thing else. 

 In a few minutes I became more tranquil, and felt a greater degree of 

 confidence. 



My fair one seemed absorbed in the great step she was taking, and 

 I from delicacy forbore to rally her. However, as she continued silent, 

 I said, " Never mind your father ; these Germans never feel deeply." 

 Upon which, to my utmost astonishment, an astonishment that stopped 

 the very circulation of my blood, I heard these words addressed to me 

 " Oh, you infernal very young scoundrel ! You rob me of my dear girl, 

 do you ? No, you do not. I catch you, and take you to de prison ; and 

 then," added he, " I will take your blode, as you English say." Upon 

 which he began to pommel me with all the ferocity of a German skipper. 

 " Oh, sir, for God's sake," I exclaimed, " do hear reason, sir !" and then 

 thrusting my head out of the window, I called out in the most energetic 

 tone to Tom to stop. The moment Tom heard my voice he drove 

 harder than ever. The old gentleman now put his head out at the other 

 side of the carriage, and spoke to some one behind, crying, " Get down, 

 and stop de postillion." ' f It is quite impossible ; we are going at the 

 rate of twenty miles an hour, sir ; we dare not get down." Tom drove like 

 lightning ; there was no stopping him, nor explaining to him what had 

 taken place. The old gentleman put his head out again, and cried out, 

 "Stop him at de turnpike ;" and as we approached it, I heard the fellows 

 behind cry out, " Shut the gate ! shut the gate !" I felt thankful that I 

 should then get out, and make the best of my way home again. I was 

 astonished that cutting Tom did not slacken his pace when he heard the 

 cry of " shut the gate !" instead of that, laying the whip on his horses, 

 he even increased his furious career, and we actually appeared to be 

 flying. Oh, what a moment! I could just perceive, by the glimmer of 

 the lamp at the turnpike-house, that the gate was closed. Tom dashed 

 on with the fury of a demon. The men behind screamed in the agony 

 of fear. I shouted, " For God's sake, stop !" The old German went 

 into a fit, and kicked most violently. At this moment a most awful 

 crash took place. It was terrific the screams of the women at the gate, 

 and the noise inside and outside the carriage ! Never shall I forget it. 

 Tom, gallant Tom, who had sworn before we started off that no earthly 

 power should stop him, kept his word. He dashed at the gate with an 

 impetus that nothing could resist. The barrier gave way, and was 

 dashed into ten thousand pieces. It was only one crash, and all was 

 over ; but it was succeeded by a triumphant shout from the cutter. The 

 old German shortly recovered from his fit ; but Tom never stopped till 

 we got to the next stage, and here we found the promised stage waiting 

 for us. The moment we stopped the two fellows behind seized me. 

 Cutting Tom, and Flash Jack, the post-boy of the fresh chaise, in a 

 moment took my part. Tom floored one of the fellows in the twinkling 

 of an eye. Jack had met with his match. I endeavoured to explain the 

 state of affairs to Tom, who had gone up to the chaise in which the old 

 German was, " Now, Miss, out with you in a minute," said he. A 

 crowd of people was soon round, and there was a cry for lights. The 

 landlord of the inn, and ostlers, strangers, old and young, all kept con- 



