340 THE COACHING AGE. 



and enjoying themselves quietly, when Benson looked 

 in at the door, and said somebody had put a pig 

 into his hind-boot, and it was kicking up a precious 

 row. Pipes were at once laid down, and several 

 persons adjourned to the coach to see this noisy 

 specimen of the porcine tribe. Benson had got round 

 to the far side of the hind-boot, where he imitated 

 the squeaking and grunting of the pig most vigorously. 

 How to get a sight of the animal without letting him 

 escape seemed to puzzle the company, because as soon 

 as the hind-boot door was touched, or any attempt to 

 op^u it was made, the pig squealed louder than ever, 

 and was apparently endeavouring to push its way 

 out. This induced from the lookers-on various 

 cautions, such as, ' Take care !' ' Mind" what you're 

 at !' ' He'll get out and bolt !' etc. 



As the coach was just starting, Benson unlocked and 

 opened the door, when they said, ' Lor', there bain't 

 never no pig there !' 



Benson burst out laughing, slammed the boot door, 

 ran after the coach, and jumped up, greatly to the 

 amusement of his passengers. 



He was a man of most violent temper, and cared 

 little on whom or what he vented it. One night he 

 got to the front of the coach somewhere near Basing- 

 stoke, and was hitting one of the wheelers with a 

 short chain. Whether he was on the footboard or 



