CH. XIV GETTING UP 287 



left to right, to prevent them from catching on the 

 roller-bolt in getting up. 



These instructions may seem somewhat minute, 

 but none too minute for a beginner, who will find 

 the first method a good one ; the second method 

 may be used later ; but the coachman should adopt 

 a uniform way of taking up his reins, so that he 

 can always do it quickly and neatly, and not stand 

 fumbling with them in an uncertain way ; and he 

 should always so take them that he will have little 

 to do when he o-ets on fa^ b ox 



An expert can judge, at first sight, pretty fairly 

 of a coachman by the way he gets up. 



If the reins have been carefully put in their 

 place above the tug-buckle (Fig. 127) and have not 

 slipped, they can be taken out ready to go into 

 the fingers without in any way changing them ; 

 when the coachman notices that they have been so 

 placed, he can take them up instantly, and neatly. 

 This is a reason for tuckine the reins into their 

 place from the front backward, as shown in Fig. 127, 

 since they remain there more securely than when 

 merely pushed through from the back. 



When the coachman has the reins in his right hand 

 with the same hand he takes the whip (which has 

 been lying on the wheelers' backs, see p. 254), steps 

 back, puts his left foot on the hub of the wheel, his 

 right foot on the roller-bolt, his left on the step, and 

 his right on the foot-board, using his left hand to help 

 himself and keeping his right arm straight down. 



