COLLISION. 153 



the road, and, for a moment, saw the 

 coach falling on me ; but in that same 

 moment the body of the coach struck 

 the post, and the hind wheel having 

 spanned the ditch, she, as the sailor 

 would say, righted; and, with the force 

 from the speed they were going at, 

 broke down the other post, regained the 

 road in safety, and were stopped just as 

 they reached the little bridge over the 

 Wash: a most miraculous escape for me. 

 The passengers, who sat still, were un- 

 hurt ; but one gentleman, in jumping 

 off the hind part of the coach, sprained 

 his ancle, and, sore with pain and fright, 

 he insisted upon being conveyed to 

 London in a post-chaise. One or two of 

 the others accompanied him at which I 

 could not help observing, that there 

 is generally one troublesome customer 

 among the passengers when anything 

 occurs, and he is always sure to be a 



