IN THE LAKE DISTRICT 127 



but he obstinately refused to give up the 

 ribbons. The lamps had been lit at Rydal. 

 I was on the second coach, the brake bring- 

 ing- up the rear. Not half a mile from 

 Ambleside we passed a waggonette returning 

 to Grasmere empty. Bell was on the wrong 

 side of the ro^id ; and, looking back, I saw 

 by his lamps that he was not pulling across, 

 in spite of the other driver's shouts. The 

 result was a smash, but, strange to say, the 

 two pole-heads met fair. Bell's shivered, 

 but no other harm was done. Of course, we 

 had pulled up, and, by the way, it was Bell's 

 son that was with us — one of the masters 

 driving at the time. The old man was 

 forcibly removed from the box and shut up 

 inside the son's coach. Finally they drove 

 off, leaving me to drive the brake home, for 

 which purpose they promised to send me a 



