HOBS E 8 DISSENT. 109 



did not interest us in the least : they had it on soon at 

 all events, all at the door of Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley 

 Square. The chestnut shone as off-horse in the curricle, 

 the grey was resplendent in the tilbury. As for the start, 

 I cannot boast much of that, — kicks, plunges, rearings 

 to match. There was evidently some misunderstand- 

 ing. My fellow-traveller, wheeling round in spite of 

 "curb or rein," passed me in an opposite direction. My 

 thoughts were intent on Davies Street; the grey differed 

 with me widely in opinion, and was ambitious of the 

 Square ; round which (if I may use the expression) he 

 galloped with unnecessary haste, till he met my fellow- 

 traveller at the bottom, and we passed each other in 

 grand style, our nags being considerably animated by 

 the "lumbering of the wheels." Not once alone did this 

 happen ; and before our coursers could be gained over to 

 our opinion, Charing Cross possessed the curricle, and 

 Hanover Square could boast of the tilbury. Our skill 

 might reasonably be questioned, our perseverance could 

 not; for before midnight we rallied, and urged our re- 

 luctant beasts to the dulness of Stilton. From hence- 

 forth everything went on smoothly with them ; except 

 that the chestnut died of the distemper, and the grey 

 fell out of a crazy boat into Loch Lomond, ran away 

 some time afterwards, overturned the vehicle, broke my 

 unfortunate servant's leg, and lamed himself for life. 



We journeyed on to Selkirk in juvenile mood. From 

 hence my friends went to Edinburgh, where I agreed to 

 join them. And now comes the point — what made me, 

 Harry Otter, a fisher for salmon? Why thus it was — I 

 went forth, after my arrival at the aforesaid town, at 



