2o8 THE COACHING ERA 



and a broken pole, the box-seat passenger, plentifully 

 enveloped with coats and shawls, exclaimed bitterly: 

 "What are you fellows keeping me here in the cold for 

 and warming your own hands at the lamp." 



A traveller in a blinding snow-storm put his head 

 out of the Oxonian coach and inquired of John Bayzand 

 if he knew where he was. Bayzand, who had lost his 

 bearings completely and was on the verge of losing his 

 temper as well, replied that if his passenger was anxious 

 for the truth, and nothing but the truth, he should have 

 it, which amounted to the fa£l that he, the coachman, 

 did not know where he was, and had no immediate 

 prospeft of finding out. 



"Oh, indeed!" snorted the inside passenger in a rage, 

 "a nice sort of fellow you are to be entrusted with the 

 lives of Her Majesty's servants." 



"Perhaps you will be kind enough to get out and 

 show me the right road," said Bayzand. 



The gentleman, feeling confident that he could 

 perform this simple feat, immediately stepped forth, 

 and landed unexpe6ledly in a snow-drift, where he 

 cried out very lustily that he would be smothered. He 

 was allowed time to cool his temper and then the guard 

 extricated him. 



The Oxonian wandered about indefinitely, till it 

 met a countryman, who gave the coachman the cheering 

 information that he was miles out of his way; that the 

 road ahead was blocked up and utterly impassable; and 

 it was exceedingly doubtful if he could get back along 

 the road he had come. 



