72 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



bow-kickers as these are, all as shifty as a lawyer : in 

 fact, this off-wheeler is a lawyer all over, for he'll not 

 work at all, if he is not devilish well paid for it ; and I 

 keep a short Tommy in the boot, on purpose to pay him 

 off. Howsomever, Master Francis, you shall try what 

 you can do with them if you like, so shift over to my 

 side, and I'll put the reins right in your hand." [Here 

 it may be observed, that the short wheel-reins being 

 generally in use at that time, the placing the reins of 

 four horses in the hand of a tyro was not a complex affair. 

 The wheel-reins merely rested across the left hand, after 

 passing between the fore and the middle finger, and those 

 of the leaders passing between the thumb and fore finger, 

 and the fore and middle finger, were very readily distin- 

 guished from the others.] 



" Now, Master Francis," resumed old Wilkins, " mind 

 what you are about. Keep your wheel-horses to their 

 collars, and your leaders will get out of their way of 

 themselves. Now, let me see you point your leaders to 

 the left without moving your wheel-horses. Well done, 

 master ! that will do. Xow shoot out your wheelers to 

 the right without disturbing your leaders. Ah ! that's not 

 so easily done ; but it will come all in time. A man wants 

 three hands to stir these bow-kickers, 'specially if he 

 ain't used to them. But let me see you hit this near 

 wheeler. Well, not much amiss, Master Francis, though 

 something like thrashing. I fear the old horse thinks 

 you are playing with him, for he minds you no more than 

 a bolster does a flea-bite. Now touch up the grey mare. 

 Ah ! master, that won't do. Always hit a leader below 

 the bar, or you will be for ever having a bite, but catch 

 no fish. But now, sir, if you please, I'll take 'em in hand 

 again down the hill, for it's a long fall, and, as I told you 

 before, this near wheel-horse is rather given to say his 

 prayers, if he steps on a loose stone." 



At the bottom of the hill (they were now close upon a 

 village), Wilkins pulled up his coach, and, in an undertone, 

 said to an outside passenger, " Now, sir, if you please, 

 will you get down, and walk through the town ? " On 

 his afterwards resuming his seat, at the other end of it, 

 the dialogue thus proceeded : 



" What is the meaning of this, Wilkins ? " asked Frank ; 

 "why not let that passenger ride through the town? 

 you are not heavily loaded." " Why, sir," replied Wilkins, 



