THE LIFE OF A SPORTSJMAN 



' Why, by a bit of good luck,' replied Jem ; ' the cart-horses 

 kept pace with me, till they got blown, and then stopped of 

 their own accord ; the driver was in the cart, without reins, and 

 had no command of them. It cured me of running too near a 

 team of powerful horses 



' But to show you how soon an accident may happen to a 

 coach, and from what a trifling cause, I will tell you what 

 happened to a fellow-servant of mine about a dozen years back. 

 The collar of his box coat was fastened by what is called a 

 hook and eye ; having occasion to stroke his chin with his 

 right hand, on which was a strong glove, with a hole in it, 

 the hook entered the hole, and held his hand fast. The horses 

 bolted at the moment towards the near side of the road, which, 

 being deprived of the use of his right hand, he had not the 

 power of preventing, and the consequence was, that his coach 

 was upset, and one passenger killed and several badly hurt.' 



On arriving at the house where Jem Powell had been picked 

 up, he was taken leave off by the party, our hero slipping a 

 five-pound note into his hand, as he gave it a hearty shake ; 

 and the fresh team being put to the coach, within a minute of 

 the time allowed they were at the hall door of their owner, with 

 scarcely a wet hair on their skins, a cool breeze from the north 

 having met them point-blank for the last five miles. In the 

 course of the evening, the doings of the morning were talked 

 over, much in the following strain : — 



' Well, Raby,' said Hargrave, ' we have spent a very pleasant 

 day. Peyton is the same straightforward good sort of fellow as 

 he was when we first became acquainted with him ; and how 

 complete is his establishment in everything ! ' 



' There is no better,' said Jack Webber, ' take it altogether, 

 and there is a workman at the head of it, which is everything. 

 As a horseman and a coachman Peyton has not met his equal. 

 And is not old Jem capital, with his broad-brimmed hat and 

 copper-coloured weather-beaten nmg and his lingo ? No 

 person could mistake his calling ; and how quaintly, yet to 

 the purpose, does he express himself on all subjects on which 

 he speaks ! He has been an excellent servant to Costar, and is 

 highly respected on the road. ^ Have you enjoyed yourself to- 

 day, Edmonston ? ' 



^ It is to be lamented that there is no print in existence of this thorough-bred 

 coaclinian, who was the hcan-ideal of his calling. 



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