3 



20 DOWN-HILL CH. XIV 



This use of an opposition was called by the older 

 coachmen pointing the leaders and shooting the 

 wheelers, and must have been very necessary in 

 entering the cramped archways of old coaching inns 

 out of narrow streets. 



It is almost unnecessary to add that for such 

 turns all possible room on the opposite side of the 

 street must be taken ; but sometimes it is not to be 

 had. 



In turning a corner up-hill, particularly if the road 

 beyond the turn is still steeper than that on which 

 the coach is, it is sometimes an advantage to let out 

 the outside lead-rein instead of making a point with 

 the inside one, so as to encourage the leaders to 

 make some extra exertion. 



Down-Hill. — It is obvious that the leaders should 

 never have their traces tight when going down-hill, 

 and judgement is required to know how much to 

 take them back. They must not come back far 

 enough to let the bars, or the pole, touch them. 

 They should have their traces just hanging, and the 

 bars entirely clear of their hocks, and this position 

 should be attained immediately before the coach 

 begins to descend, since few things look worse than 

 to see the leaders pulling for several yards after the 

 coach has be^un its descent. 



It will not be necessary, however, to shorten the 

 lead-reins always, or much. Usually a general pull 

 upon all four reins will bring back the leaders suffi- 



