The Rev. J. W. Adams, V.G. 9 



pletely taken by surprise, set off at a mad gallop through the 

 gates, round a sharp corner into the Mall, leaving our coachman, 

 and many willing helpers who were putting their shoulders to 

 the wheel, on their faces in the dust, owing to our sudden, 

 violent start when they were pushing with all their might. 



We continued our mad career full gallop, as if the horses 

 were possessed, until, with consummate skill, we were swished 

 round the entrance to our bungalow and pulled up with great 

 eclat at the verandah which answered for a front door. 



As far as we could ascertain at the moment, we were none 

 the worse for our experience, but we were a little dazed. 



After a moment or two's pause to see if all was really over, 

 we recovered our breath and looked up at the Padre, who at 

 the same moment turned round to see how it fared with us. 

 Then the absurdity of the situation was too much for us, and 

 while the horses hung their heads and trembled, we were con- 

 vulsed with laughter ; the Padre always had a keen sense of 

 the ludicrous, and we certainly made a curious picture. He was 

 sitting on the box far above us, a rein still twisted round each 

 hand, his feet firmly planted, thereby helping him to remain on 

 the box and get some purchase, his clerical hat well jammed 

 down over his eyes, while we (a friend staying with me and 

 myself) were mixed up amongst dust-cloaks, cushions, and the 

 contents of the luncheon-basket — sandwiches that had lost 

 their outsides, others that had lost their insides — in the most 

 impartial manner ; a syphon of soda-water standing on its 

 head which had been hurled at us out of the hamper as we 

 " hurrushed " round a corner, and which in our endeavours to 

 remain inside the carriage we had trodden on, sending the 

 contents all over our — feet, shall I say ? 



Before we had extricated ourselves — it took some time, we 

 were so weak with laughter and our experience- -we heard more 

 furious galloping, and turned our heads to see who else were 

 enjoying themselves ; but it was only my lord and master — who 

 had been riding at the meeting and just heard we were last seen 

 in a cloud of dust with the horses running away — coming to see 

 what had really happened. 



He congratulated Mr. Adams on his feat, it being no easy 

 task to steer a couple of run-away horses down the Mall crowded 

 with carriages, horses being ridden and led, natives on foot, 



