56 A BACE. 



gig just touched the wheel of theirs, 

 when, from the slight collision, the gent 

 on the driving side a very corpulent 

 man tumbled out, headforemost, into 

 the little stream. 



My companion said not a word, nor 

 did I, but kept on at a good pace, which 

 I afterwards upon his looking round and 

 saying they are coming at a full gallop 

 improved. We had just gained the top 

 of a hill, where the declining sun shone 

 directly on the chalk that had been ex- 

 cavated in the bank, when my horse 

 suddenly threw up his head, staggered, 

 and stopped. There was no help for it; 

 he was taken with the meagrums. 



On came this Falstaff, bursting with 

 rage ; and, in passing, shook his fist at 

 us, and his wet, but not 'gory locks ' at 

 which I could not help smiling, though 

 his threatening action was accompanied 

 with most abusive terms. 



