SOME GENTLEMAN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 167 



" S'death" 



" Hush: if you were any other man excepting father I'd knock 

 you quietly off the box but for the [[sake of the other passengers : 

 the nags are all upon the fret." 



" I don't see it." 



" No but I feel it : there's no secrets so close as those which 

 pass between a coachman and his team. The blind bolter's cho- 

 licky, and there's nothing so catching as fear or vice among four 

 horses. I've known three downright good uns lie down at starting, 

 one after another, because the fourth a bad un had set them the 

 example." 



" Well, but-" 



" Hush, for God's sake! the effect of your voice for you're in a 

 passion is frightful. I feel it like a flash of lightning in the reins. 

 They're used to my tones ; besides, you hear I speak as if nothing 

 was the matter I'll apologize presently but pray keep your temper. 

 There's a sharp turn a whitewashed house and a narrow bridge, all 

 in this bit of a hill, with a turnpike at the foot of it : the fools always 

 plant their gates at the top, the bottom, or the middle of a hill 

 Harry, don't blow your horn. If you utter another word, sir, he'll 

 plunge as sure as you're alive." 



At this critical instant, the full force of which, being a practical 

 man, of course I felt, the woman inside rattled down the off-blind, 

 and thrusting her head out, shrieked at the very top of her shrill 

 voice : " Stop, stop, I tell you there's a mouse in the coach ! " 



" By God ! they're gone ! I've lost their mouths," said Ralph with 

 admirable temper. " Blow your horn, Harry ; but begin gently, or 

 they'll get into a full gallop before old Drouzy can open the gate. 

 Once through they shall have their swing and welcome." 



" Are we really in danger, Ralph ? " anxiously inquired the banker. 



" Yes, sir ; but pray don't bother me." 



" Murder ! murder !" vociferated the woman inside ; a is the child 

 to be frightened into fits ? " 



" Harry, get on the roof and hold hard on her windpipe, or it's all 

 up with us : the bolter has got the bit in his teeth." 



" No ! has he though ? " exclaimed Harry. 



" Murder 1 mur " 



We heard no more of the lady inside, although her head was still 

 visible protruding from the window. Black Harry lay flat on the 

 roof, and he held her throat in his colossal clutch. We luckily 

 cleared the corner, shot over the bridge, through the turnpike, and 

 got upon a long strip of flat road. There Ralph pitched into his 

 team, and soon brought them to their senses. " If I wasn't afraid," 

 said he, " of setting the wheels on fire, I'd give 'em a three-mile gal- 

 lop : but there's nothing like stopping while you're safe. 



Ralph now pulled up, and told Harry to get down and inquire 

 how the lady felt. The following colloquy at the coach-door was 

 the consequence. Harry. Now, ma'am, about this here mouse 

 Lady. Oh! you villains, I'll hang some of you I only wish I knew 

 which ! Harry. I'm not agoing to say it arn't unpleasant to have 



