THE ROAD. 
ounce up" others " that kick over the pole one day 
and over the bars the next" in short, all the repro- 
bates, styled in the road slang bo-kickers, are sent to 
work these six miles, because here they have nothing to 
do but to gallop not a pebble as big as a nutmeg on 
the road; and so even, that it would not disturb the 
equilibrium of a spirit-level. 
The coach, however, goes faster and faster over the 
hospital (/round, as the bo-kickers feel their legs, and 
the collars get warm to their shoulders ; and having ten 
outsides, the luggage of the said ten, and a few extra 
packages besides on the roof, she rolls rather more than 
is pleasant, although the centre of gravity is pretty well 
kept down by four not slender insides, two well-laden 
boots, and three huge trunks in the slide. The gentle- 
man of the last century, however, becomes alarmed is 
sure the horses are running away with the coach 
declares he perceives by the shadow that there is nobody 
on the box, and can see the reins dangling about the 
horses' heels. He attempts to look out of the window, 
but his fellow-traveller dissuades him from doing so : 
" You may get a shot in your eye from the wheel. 
Keep your head in the coach ; it's all right, depend on't. 
We always spring 'em over this stage." Persuasion is 
useless ; for the horses increase their speed, and the 
worthy old gentleman looks out. But what does he 
see ? Death and destruction before his eyes ? No : to 
his surprise he finds the coachman firm at his post, and 
in the act of taking a pinch of snuff from the gentleman 
62 
