28 COACHING. 



was heard, and thinking, probably, that the 

 inmates of it might be armed, the robbers 

 scampered off. 



The second adventure occurred to me when 

 returning very late at night from Tunbridge 

 Wells in a dennet with my trusty batman, John 

 Hargreaves, by my side. We were ascending 

 the hill that leads into Sevenoaks, my servant 

 walking up it and I driving, when I heard a 

 shrill whistle from one side of the road, which 

 was immediately responded to. Anticipating 

 some mischief, I said " Jump in," and, obedient 

 to orders, Hargreaves did so. 



Happily, we had reached the summit of the 

 hill, when one man rushed forward and attempted 

 to seize the horse's bridle, while another tried 

 to hang on behind the gig. Hargreaves had 

 my stick in his hand, a good ash plant, with 

 which he struck the fellow a blow across the 

 face, which made him relax his hold, while I 

 gave a smart lash of the whip to my most 

 willing horse, who started off at a tremendous 

 pace down the hill, leaving my assailant sprawl- 

 ing on the ground, and within an inch of having 

 his head run over by the wheel. 



" Stage-coach robberies were of daily occur- 

 rence, and it was generally supposed that 



