322 HORSE AND MAN. 



doubled. Yet the horses achieved the task without 

 any help, their memory having served them in lieu 

 of the coachman's guidance. 



On inquiry, it turned out that when the horses 

 were changed at the preceding change, and the 

 coach deserted for a time, the team had taken the 

 coach into their own management. A feeble old 

 ostler was at their heads, but he said that when he 

 caught at the reins the horses whisked him out of 

 the way ' like a ninepin,' and never could have 

 stopped until they pulled up at the inn at Bland- 

 ford. 



As in the John Gilpin case, the obedient cha- 

 racter of the horse is sometimes apt to give a very 

 ludicrous and scarcely dignified aspect to the adven- 

 ture in which the animal is engaged. 



Some years ago a chaise horse was bought by a 

 Nonconforming minister, and employed in the some- 

 what staid, though easy task, of conveying him to 

 and fro on his labours. After a few years of such 

 work, the man died, and the chaise was then driven 

 by his widow, who had the misfortune of being 

 stone deaf. 



One clay a review took place at some little 

 distance from her house at Weymouth, and the old 

 lady insisted on going to see it, and driving the 

 chaise herself. 



