COACHING COMPETITION 93 



tised its intention of carrying its passengers for nothing. 

 The other coach, not to be outdone, immediately 

 caused it to be noised abroad that not only would it take 

 passengers free, but give them a good dinner into the 

 bargain! 



The usual way to settle rivalry was by trial of speed, 

 and, though coach proprietors publicly deplored this 

 dangerous custom, there is every reason to believe that 

 many of them secretly connived at it. The coachmen 

 openly gloried in it, and so jealous were they for the 

 reputation of their respeftive coaches that the very 

 sight of the opposition caused their blood to boil, and 

 race they would, despite innumerable Acts of Parliament, 

 and heedless of the safety of their unhappy passengers. 



Away would go the coach at a gallop, grazing corners, 

 careering down hills at breakneck speed, whilst the 

 passengers clung despairingly to their seats, and threa- 

 tened to report everything and everybody if they ever 

 got safely to their destination, which, however, they 

 entertained very little hope of doing. The coachman 

 and guard were deaf to all entreaties, the latter far too 

 occupied in playing "See the Conquering Hero Comes," 

 whilst the former was conscious of nothing but the 

 opposition coach thundering in the rear, and a grim 

 determination not to allow it to pass at any price, even 

 if he had to follow the desperate example of the driver 

 of one on the Portsmouth road, who in order to prevent 

 the opposition coach passing pulled his own leaders sud- 

 denly across the road in front of it. 



Anything for the honour of the coach was the old 



