168 DRIVINGr AS I FOUND IT. 



all right before getting up steam. Mj intentions were 

 evidently not perceived by the party, and they com- 

 menced to reiterate the wonderful driving of the West- 

 ern wonder, the famous Hank, over again. I had 

 already come to the conclusion that Hank's name was 

 brought in to me as a hint to go faster and felt an 

 inclination coming over me to find out how brave these 

 gentlemen really were, so, without saying a word, I let 

 go the brake and set the horses going, and they bein^ 

 good ones away they went, in fact, they went so fast 

 that the coach began to sway. Suddenly some one 

 grasped me from behind. It Avas the gentleman who 

 had been relating the wonderful adventures of Hank, 

 and he called out, "What are you doing? For God's 

 sake stop!" The ladies screamed, for tj^ose who were 

 unacquainted with the road and the turn at the bottom 

 really expected that I was going to drive them into 

 the lake. When nearing the bottom of the hill I pulled 

 my horses to a trot and safely rounded the corner. 

 After regaining breath, the gentleman asked me what 

 had happened. I replied, "Nothing. You gave me so 

 much Hank, I thought I Avould give you a little in re- 

 turn," and that little appeared to have a very depress- 

 ing effect on him, for never another word was spol^en 

 during the remainder of the journey. 

 That six horses can be driven with perfect safety 



