32 THE EXETER ROAD 



on one occasion, between Whitcliurcli and Andover. 

 The coach used to start from Piccadilly, where all the 

 passengers and baggage were taken up. On this 

 occasion the bags were brought up in a cart, as usual, 

 and we were off in a few seconds. My coachman 

 had been having a drinking bout with a friend that 

 day, and when we had got a few miles on the road, 

 I discovered that he was tlie worse for drink and 

 that it was not safe for him to drive. So when 

 we reached Hounslow I made him get off the box- 

 seat ; and after securing the mail-bags and putting 

 him in my seat and strapping him in, I took the 

 ribbons. At Whitchurch the coachman unstrapped 

 himself and exchanged places with me, but we had 

 not proceeded more than three miles when, the coach 

 giving a jolt over a heap of stones, he fell between 

 the horses, and the wheels of the coach ran over him, 

 killing him on the spot. The horses, having no 

 driver, broke into a full gallop, so, as there was no 

 front passenger, I climbed over the roof, to gather up 

 the reins, when I found that they had fallen among 

 the horses' feet and were trodden to bits. Eeturning 

 over the roof, I missed my hold and fell into the 

 road, but fortunately wdth no worse accident than 

 some bruises and a sprained ankle. The horses kept 

 on till they reached Andover, where they pulled up 

 at the usual spot. Strange to say, no damage was 

 done to the coach, though there was a very steep hill 

 to go dowm. The " Old Exeter Mail," which came 

 behind our coach, found the body of my coachman 

 on the road, and, a mile farther, picked me up.' 



