296 ANNALS OF THE ROAD. 



not break, or coach and horses (and perhaps a passenger 

 or two) would have all been consumed together. I must 

 not name coach, or coachman, but a Reverend whip 

 had hold of them at the time. Fifteen years back, the 

 Newmarket and Ipswich mail ran foul of a waggon loaded 

 with hay, and the glass of one of the lamps — which were 

 lit — breaking, hay and wawon were consumed. 



Presence of mind is much required when an accident 

 happens to a coach, and outside passengers should never 

 think of quitting a coach by jumping from the fore part 

 of her, at least, until she falls to the ground. A friend of 

 mine was put to the test some years since on the Leeds 

 mail, and although he did not exercise his presence of 

 mind to the full extent, he fared better than his com- 

 panions in danger. The reins broke ; the coachman fell 

 from his box, and broke his leg ; and the horses ran 

 away at full speed. My friend was on the box ; but on 

 the roof was a very corpulent man who made two 

 attempts to quit the coach, which my friend prevented. 

 No longer to be restrained, he leaped, and was killed on 

 the spot. My friend kept his seat for more than a mile, 

 but seeing a waggon and a turnpike gate before him, he 

 watched the opportunity of the coach running near to a 

 high foot-path, to jump upon it, and was not at all hurt. 

 The coach was stopped by the turnpike gate with very 

 little the matter. Now had I been in my friend's' situa- 

 tion, I should have got over the roof into the guard's 

 seat, and descended thence to the ground. 1 



I was never run away with by coach horses but once, 



1 Note the true way out of a difficulty. — EDITOR. 



