BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK. i8i 



Railway — that is to say, it has neither cushions 

 nor bhnds, and the brake and axle seem to dis- 

 locate endless vertebrae in their anatomy immedi- 

 ately under the seat ; but it has attractions, even 

 when shared with two side-saddles, each of which 

 takes as much room as three women and a basket. 

 There is sole and undisputed possession, and there 

 is the tranquillity of those who look on junc- 

 tions and are never shaken, when the horse-box 

 moves majestic among the interwoven points 

 to the appointed platform, whither the purple 

 aristocracy of the first class must toil by stair- 

 case and bridge. There are also two loopholes 

 opening directly into the mangers of the horse- 

 box, and through these, during the earlier part 

 of the journey, we watched with concern the 

 whites of the Tommies' eyes glistening in the 

 obscurity as they glared in vast query upon us 

 and all things ; but beyond distended nostrils and 

 immovably pricked ears they made no comment 

 on the situation. 



The valley of the Dee jogged past, in accord 



