THE ROAD. 
of the race-horse, who, if he had not been humoured at 
starting, would never have settled down to his trot, but 
have ruffled all the rest of the team. He was also 
surprised, if not pleased, at the quick rate at which 
they were ascending hills which, in his time, he should 
have been asked by the coachman to have walked up : 
but his pleasure was short-lived ; the third hill they 
descended produced a return of his agony. This was 
what is termed on the road a long fall of ground, and 
the coach rather pressed upon the horses. The temper 
of the race-horse became exhausted ; breaking into a 
canter, he was of little use as a wheeler, and there was 
then nothing for it but a gallop. The leaders only 
wanted the signal ; and the point of the thong being 
thrown lightly over their backs, they were off like an 
arrow out of a bow : but the rocking of the coach was 
awful, and more particularly so to the passengers on 
the roof. Nevertheless, she was not in danger : the 
master-hand of the artist kept her in a direct line, and 
meeting the opposing ground, she steadied, and all 
was right. The newly-awakened gentleman, however, 
begins to grumble again. "Pray, my good sir," says 
he anxiously, " do use your authority over your coach- 
man, and insist upon his putting the drag- chain on the 
wheel when descending the next hill?" "I have no 
such authority," replies the proprietor; "it is true we 
are now drawn by my horses, but I cannot interfere with 
the driving of them." " But is he not your servant?" 
" He is, sir ; but I contract to work the coach so many 
