BEGGARS O.V HORSEBACK. 179 



girth-gall, was very far from being fit for a saddle, 

 therefore the idea of a sensational finish on horse- 

 back at the central lamp-post in Welshpool had 

 been abandoned, and the Tommies were to be 

 returned to the ironmonger and the chemist in 

 the ordinary course of rail via Ruabon. We were 

 sentimentally anxious to maintain as long as pos- 

 sible our auntly relation with them, even to the 

 extent of travelling in the horse-box, and holding 

 their hands and giving them sal volatile in the 

 tunnels — this being, to the best of our belief, their 

 first experience of travelling otherwise than on 

 their own legs. The confidence inspired by 

 human companionship would of course make every- 

 thing easy ; nevertheless, when at the station we 

 saw their special carriage bear down upon us, 

 behind an engine exuding steam at every pore 

 and uttering yell upon yell as it came, it seemed 

 possible that our nephews would require more 

 than moral support. The engine steamed by, the 

 doors of the horse-box were banged open, and we 

 each took hold of a Tommy and prepared to lead 



