206 WHIP AND SPUR. 



tutions of England, — a three-stabled freight-car 

 for the transportation of horses. Paying five shil- 

 lings for a horse-ticket to Coventry (only twice 

 the cost of my own seat), I saw the mare snugly 

 packed into one of the narrow stalls and made 

 fast for the journey. Passing through a beauti- 

 ful farming country, we came in due time to the 

 quaint old town of Coventry, where several horse- 

 boxes, coming from Birmingham and other sta- 

 tions, were discharging their freight of well-bred 

 hunters. As we rode from this station another 

 hard-shelled Englishman in brown top-boots and 

 spotless white leather breeches accosted me pleas- 

 antly, reminding me that we had come from Lon- 

 don together the day before, and asking, as he 

 had recognized me for an American, if he could 

 be of service to me. 



"Pray how did you know that I am from 

 America % " 



"Only by your asking if you should change 

 'cars' at Rugby. An Englishman would have 

 said 'carriages.'" 



"Very well; I am glad my ear-mark was no 



