32 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



Axle-bolts. 



Felloe clips. 



Two small spoke ditto. 



One saw, the length of the box, and fastened to the 

 lid. 

 On the front of this box were hooks to hane the mail 

 bags on, ' bye ' bags, as they were called, that were 

 to be dropped on the road. These bags were of 

 leather, bearing the place of their destination engraved 

 on brass plates. Latterly, when the mails were allowed 

 to carry three passengers on the seat behind the coach- 

 man, besides one on the box and three in front of the 

 guard, 1 it became necessary to do away with the tool box 

 a'top, and the tools had to be carried elsewhere. The 

 blunderbuss case also had to be placed as a footboard, on 

 the top of the mail box (called in stage coaches the hind 

 boot). This mail box opened at the top, and at the 

 back, and the lock of the box was thus at the feet of the 

 guard. In case this lock was ever missing from its place, 

 the dismissal of the guard was certain. A light was 

 carried by the guard to enable him to sort the mail 

 bags, separating ' bye ' from ' forward.' One guard that I 

 know carried his light under his seat, so that on opening 

 his mail box he could see what he was at. Some of the 

 mails carried two lamps on either side. The second lamp 

 was sometimes carried at the side of the box-seat panels, 

 but more frequently through the lower step irons of the 

 boot. The round-faced Argand reflecting lamp, 2 with a 



1 The Yarmouth mail carried eight outsiders itwasa bad road for themails. 



2 Now so generally in use with the three pipe-light wicks. 



