NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR 339 



enough for three miles, up hill, at starting, and then four miles, as we 

 had that day, of newly stoned road, with a heavy load to boot. Of course 

 the Captain occasionally reminded me afterwards of " losing ten minutes, 

 •with Nimrod at work." But I soon had my pull; as before the month 

 expired, I heard of the Captain, over the same ground, entering Kinross 

 without leaders at all, both of them having cut it in the '* metal," as the 

 newly laid stone is called in the north ! 



Of course I saw neither of the coachmen on the lower ground — 

 i. e. from Perth to Edinburgh — at work this day; but being anxious to 

 see the flash man, Arthur Farquhar, perform, he took hold of them for 

 one stage. And now then for my opinion of him. Of his nerve, wherein 

 I understand consists one of his first excellences, I had no opportunity of 

 judging, for all went well ; but I understand it is nearly danger proof 

 a great recommendation to the driver of a fast coach ; and in this respect 

 he is superior to David Roup, who is said to have a great regard for 

 himself as well as for all his passengers. He is likewise a powerful man 

 on his box, but he does not look the coachman by any means so much as 

 the Highlander does. He has a very peculiar method of holding his 

 reins — not with the left arm close to his body, as it generally is held, 

 and gaining support therefrom ; but quite away from it, and with the arm 

 not much bent. The Highlander's seat on his box is very good indeed, 

 as I before observed, and I have no hesitation in saying — without any 

 disparagement of Arthur, that he is a much better coachman than he 

 was represented to me to be, by several of those who had travelled with 

 him. He has a very good hand on his horses, which is a most essential 

 point in dividing the work between them, and keeping stock together. 



All things considered — and allowance must be made for the great 



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