1 8 THE EXETER ROAD 



proprietor ; ' but he will make good play over some 

 part of it ; for example, wheu he gets three parts down 

 a hill he lets them loose, and cheats them out of half 

 the one they have to ascend from the bottom of it. In 

 short, they are half-way up it before a horse touches 

 his collar ; and we ')nu8t take every advantage with 

 such a fast coach as this, and one that loads so well, 

 or we should never keep our time. We are now to a 

 minute ; in fact, the country people no longer look to 

 the sun when they want to set their clocks — they 

 look onlv to the Comet' 



Determined to see the chanoino- of the team at the 

 next stage, the old gentleman remarks one of the new 

 horses beino- led to the coach with a twitch fastened 

 tightly to his nose. ' Holloa, Mr. Horsekeeper ! ' he 

 says, ' you are going to put an unruly horse in.' — 

 ' What 1 this here 'os6%' growls the man ; " the quietest 

 hanimal alive, sir.' But the good faith of this pro- 

 nouncement is somewhat discounted by the coachman's 

 caution, ' Mind what you are about. Bob ; don't let 

 him touch the roller-bolt.' Then, ' Let 'em go, and 

 take care of yourselves,' his next remark, seems a 

 little alarmino-. More alarmino; still the next 

 happening. The near leader rears right on end, 

 the thorouoiibred near- wheeler draws himself back 

 to the extent of his pole -chain, and then, darting- 

 forward, gives a sudden start to the coach which 

 nearly dislocates the passengers' necks. 



We will not follow every heart -beat of our old 

 friend on this exciting pilgrimage. He quits the 

 coach at Bao-shot, conoratulatino- himself on beino- 

 still safe and sound, and rings the bell for the waiter. 



