324 THE COACHING AGE. 



Monmouth to the scene of action, about six or seven 

 miles, at a certain rate per head. 



On the morning of the eventful day he started 

 with a full load, and after travelling along some by- 

 lanes reached the spot which was supposed to be the 

 right place. 



Numbers of people from Monmouth and the neigh- 

 bourhood had done the same, and being in the vicinity 

 of the coal-pits in the forest, it is scarcely necessary 

 to add that the pitmen mustered strong. Not so, 

 however, the belligerents, neither of whom appeared ; 

 and after waiting some time a report got about that 

 the event was to come off at another place some few 

 miles off. Hence a move became necessary along 

 some narrow lanes, and this place being at last 

 reached, the multitude concluded that they had now 

 actually arrived at the correct spot, and that the 

 event they had come out to see would certainly come 

 off. No better success, however, awaited them here 

 than at the spot where they first halted ; and at last 

 it became certainly known that nothing would come 

 off, though they were not able to ascertain for what 

 reason. 



At all events, no fight took place, much to the 

 disappointment and vexation of those present, in- 

 cluding the omnibus passengers, who were loud and 

 vigorous in their expressions of dissatisfaction ; and 



