242 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DA YS OF YORE 



chronicler of tlicso tliini^s, he was among the 

 safest of coacliinen — a testimony not siii)porte(l by 

 the fact tliat lie twice ui)set the " Star " l)etween 

 lloyston and linntingford. ITis determination to 

 keep his time was, we are told, sni)erior to all 

 mercenary considerations or regard for the " short 

 pocket." Thus, although he pulled up on one 

 occasion when hailed on the road hy a gentleman 

 in a ])haeton, saying he " might as well have this 

 half-crown as not," he drove oif again because the 

 passenger did not come instantly. 



lie was, according to the admiring testimony 

 of the time, a fixture on the box — notliing could 

 throw him off. K. scientific punisher of refractory 

 horses, too; accompanying the corrective discipline 

 of the whip with much grim humour. Passing 

 through Buntingford one day, the chestnut near 

 leader attemi)ted to bolt into a public-house. " I 

 didn't know your friends lived tJiere^' said Walton. 

 " Come, come, now you are got into this coach you 

 must give up low company," and two slashing- 

 strokes of the whip followed. Walton, it was said, 

 had the temper of an emperor and a tongue as 

 fluent and free as that of a bargee. The story was 

 told that he refused to pull up for a passenger 

 Avho had lost his hat, and that the passenger there- 

 upon pushed AValton's off, compelling him to halt; 

 but that tale Avas eitluu* untrue or the passenger 

 luiaccpiainted with AValton. It was not likely that 

 any one who knew him Avould have taken such a 

 liberty. We are not told what became of that 

 imjpulsive passenger. 



