134 l^rOING, DRIVING AND KINDRED SPORTS 



of the hill, the pace can be quickened without 

 clanger as the foot of the incline Is reached, and 

 advantage taken of a clear road, to steal a bit 

 from the ascent which is against them, by 

 springing them up the slope. 



But nerve is wanted when thinos do not 2:0 

 smoothly. In coaching it is often the unex- 

 pected which happens, and the safety of coach 

 and passengers will often depend on the 

 promptness with which the driver acts. Let 

 me give some instances of what I mean, all 

 of which happened to a coach running in the 

 neighbourhood of my present residence. 



In the first case the coach, with a heavy load 

 of pleasure-seekers, was coming down a steep 

 hill when the off-lead rein broke. There was 

 on the near side of the road a house with a 

 portico standing right on to the road. The 

 coachman, without a moment's hesitation, put 

 his brake hard on and whipped his leaders into 

 the porch, so that they were rubbing their 

 noses against the door, and thus brought the 

 coach up standing almost before the box seat 

 passengers realised what had happened. The 

 promptness of the action saved a serious 

 mishap. The second instance is an example 

 of the same need of promptness coupled with 

 strength and boldness. The coach had just 

 started, and the horses, rather a free team. 



