CH. XXIII ACCIDENTS 505 



In making a short turn, the pole may easily be 

 broken by the lead horses jumping- sideways when 

 the coach is on the lock. When this happens, 

 the break is usually through the pin-hole, in the 

 futchells, and if there is only a short distance to go 

 and not down-hill, by taking out the broken piece, 

 the remaining part of the pole can be jammed back 

 between the futchells ; then the pole-chains being 

 taken up very tight and the leaders prevented from 

 pulling on the point of the pole, home may be 

 reached. If a piece of rope is run from the D 

 of the main-bar to the futchells, the leaders can 

 pull by the rope without disturbing the pole. 



A broken pole can be temporarily mended by 

 pushing the fractured ends tightly together and 

 then binding on, by a strong cord, two or four thin 

 pieces of board, like splints. A rope should then 

 be carried from the bars to the futchells (as men- 

 tioned above) to prevent the leaders from pulling 

 the pole out of its splints. 



For mending breaks there is nothing so good 

 as an article not often found in civilized places, 

 namely : a strip of raw-hide. If this is wetted and 

 bound round a joint, or a splice, it will contract in 

 drying, and be much tighter than any cord can be 

 drawn. Skill in tying some of the knots used by 

 sailors is of great advantage in case of accident. 



The breaking of a lead-bar, or the coming loose 

 of one of its ends, does little damage, unless the 

 bar falls on the horse's heels and makes him kick. 



