SHEET HILL. 105 



descry full half a mile before me. I 

 knew very well I had the best team. 

 I therefore followed at full speed. Being 

 light loaded, the deflection of the springs 

 corresponding with the unevenness of 

 the road, the only passenger I had 

 behind, a soldier, was tossed up and 

 down like a shuttlecock from a bat- 

 tledore ; so much was this the case, 

 that I kept continually looking back to 

 see if he were safe. 



At the top of Sheet Hill I overhauled 

 my competitor, as the sailor would say, 

 and we went down the hill broadside and 

 broadside. When nearly at the bottom 

 we met a postchaise, whose driver, staring 

 with astonishment, pulled into the bank, 

 to let us pass. 



A turnpike being just ahead I pulled 

 in, or I do not know what might have 

 been the consequence but knowing my 

 rival must be nearly beat, I marked the 



