1 66 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



a mountain torrent. When the furious current 

 caught the coach, it was instantly dashed against 

 the corner of GiHan's Inn, and the four animals 

 swept off their legs. They rose again, plunging 

 and struggling for their lives, and a boat Avas 

 pushed off, Avitli men eager to free the poor animals 

 from their harness, to enable them to swim away ; 

 but it was not j^ossible to save more than one. 

 The other three were drowned. 



By this time the coach, with coachman and 

 guard, had been flung upon the pavement, where 

 the depth of water was less ; and there the guard 

 was seen, clinging to the top, and the coachman 

 hanging by his hands from a lamp-j)ost, regretting 

 too late the official ardour and slavery to tradition 

 that had wrought such havoc. When, for 

 humanity's sake, as Avell as to secure the mail- 

 bags, a boat came and rescued them, they were 

 not suffered to dejiart without much Al)erdonian 

 jjlain-speaking on the folly that had nearly cost 

 them their lives and endangered the corre- 

 spondence of the good folks of the ancient burgh 

 of Banff. 



There were no passengers on this occasion, but 

 we are not to suppose that, had there been any, 

 they would have received much consideration. 

 The mail would prol)ably have been driven on, 

 just tlie same. The official attitude of mind 

 towards them may be judged from the wintry 

 horrors encountered bv the Edinbur"-!! to Glaso-ow 

 Mail in March 1827. It became embedded in the 

 snow near Kirkliston, and the guard, riding one 



