338 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



resting place for the night ; and the old miller of the village is well 

 worthy of notice. He is of such a towering height, and so well pro- 

 portioned withal, that the Captain himself absolutely looked small by his 

 side ; and although far advanced in years, he was then straight as a dart. 



The miller's description to me of the Captain's father was by no means 

 amiss. *' He always wore," said he, "a red coat, white breeches with 

 gold knee-bands, and a cocked hat ; and / assure you he commanded 

 respect," 



According to agreement, the Captain and myself drove the Defiance 

 alternate stages to Edinburgh, the Captain making the start. Of the 

 road from Aberdeen to Edinburgh there is not much to be said, and still 

 it passes over classic ground, and some renowned for modern deeds. 



We enjoyed our drive very much indeed : every thing went well, and I 

 was pleased at the respect paid, by all descriptions of persons, to the Captain 

 on the road, t noticed the time occupied in some of the changes. That 

 at Cowden Beath, was done in a minute, and I should think the average 

 did not exceed a minute and a half, which is quite quick enough to be 

 safe. No doubt a fatal accident to one of our celebrated coaches in the 

 south, a few months back, was the consequence of too great haste in 

 changing horses, by which the hook of the pole chain was not properly 

 secured in the link. I lost ten minutes over one stage — from Glenfargue 

 to Kinross— but I can account for it. In the first place, both bearing 

 straps of the off wheeler's pad gave way, by his dragging at his pole 

 chain when I pulled up for a parcel ; in the next, had I not eased the 

 near leader for the two last miles, she would have cut it. It was a nice 

 spicy team, but, as I told the owner of it, CaptainShelton, hardly weighty 



