CH. XVII USE OF THE WHIP 4 1 I 



After striking- a leader, the point may catch be- 

 tween the hook and the spring of the lead-bar, and 

 it will be generally necessary for one of the servants 

 to get down and release it ; but a series of gentle 

 jerks, or pulling back the leaders, so as to slacken 

 the lead-trace, will sometimes bring it out. To 

 order a servant to get down for the purpose of 

 clearing the thong, the coachman says, sharply, 

 'near side' or 'off side,' as the case may be. If 

 the point is wet, especially if it is of whipcord, it 

 will often lap round the hook of the lead-bar or 

 some part of the bar ; which is called : ' getting a 

 bite ;' a little jerking and coaxing will usually free 

 it. Another expression used for having the thong 

 caught is : 'getting hung up.' 



Should the loop of the thong catch on a tree, the 

 whip must be quickly let go entirely, and picked up 

 afterward ; an attempt to pull it away may not only 

 break it, but possibly inflict a blow upon the occu- 

 pant of the box-seat. The balls or ornaments on 

 gateposts may catch the whip unless it is held high. 



In approaching a spot where the horses may be 

 troublesome, such as under a railroad bridge, the 

 whip should be unwound, and only the point of the 

 thong held in the hand, ready for instant application 

 to a leader. In meeting a steam-roller, for instance, 

 the leaders are very apt to shy, and a quick touch 

 to the off side of the off leader will keep the leaders 

 in the road. 



There is an unwritten rule of the Reunion Road 



