COACHING 



settled down to his trot, but have ruffled all the rest 

 of the team. He was also surprised, if not pleased, 

 at the quick rate at which they were ascending hills 

 which, in his time, he should have been asked by the 

 coachman to have walked up — but his pleasure was 

 short-lived ; the third hill they descended produced 

 a return of his agony. This was what is termed on 

 the road a long fall of ground, and the coach rather 

 pressed upon the horses. The temper of the race- 

 horse became exhausted : breaking into a canter, 

 he was of little use as a wheeler, and there was then 

 nothing for it but a gallop. The leaders only wanted 

 the signal ; and the point of the thong being thrown 

 lightly over their backs, they were off like an arrow 

 out of a bow : but the rocking of the coach was 

 awful, and more particularly so to the passengers 

 on the roof. Nevertheless, she was not in danger : 

 the master-hand of the artist kept her in a direct 

 line ; and meeting the opposing ground, she steadied, 

 and all was right. The newly-awakened gentleman, 

 however, begins to grumble again. * * Pray, my good 

 sir," says he anxiously, ** do use your authority over 

 your coachman, and insist upon his putting the drag- 

 chain on the wheel when descending the next hill." 



29 



