The Merry Past 



ship after a lengthy cruise would often fill up a whole 

 coach, and as many as sixteen jolly sailors — four in- 

 side and twelve out — were not infrequently stowed 

 away; any discomfort being alleviated by a plentiful 

 stock of liquor. A crowd of seafaring passengers such 

 as this, however, was Uable to lead to accidents, for 

 the men were so accustomed to being swung about at 

 sea that when the coach swayed over a rough part of 

 the road or going down hill they would sway with it, 

 and by their weight occasionally cause it to overturn. 



124 



