128 OLD COACHING DAYS 



pole from Ambleside. Some time elapsed 

 before It arrived, and though I sent the old 

 post-horses along, all I knew, they were too 

 tired to make much of a pace up the 

 Troutbeck Hill. When we reached home 

 the coaches were sione, and an ostler was 

 waitino- for the brake. As luck would have 

 It, Mr. Rlsfo' had noticed the lono- Interval 

 between the two arrivals, and came out to 

 question Bell. Of course, he noticed the lad 

 who was drivino-, and further Investio-atlon — 

 discovering the strange pole, and lastly 

 Bell himself, still snoring inside the coach 

 — resulted in prompt and final dismissal. 

 Otherwise, the matter would probably have 

 been hushed up, as the old man was a 

 general favourite, and his son, who I believe 

 Is still driving, a steady fellow and a smart 

 whip. 



