ACCIDENTS. 151 



impression on him. The farmer wishing, as he sup- 

 posed, to mark the favour he considered the coach- 

 man had done him by partaking of his hospitality, 

 and knowing that his time for returning to London 

 was approaching, finished the entertainment with 

 two bottles of excellent claret, requesting the coach- 

 man not to hurry himself, as he would drive him 

 in his own gig to Eedbourn, a distance of little 

 more than a mile. Nothing loth, as the coachman 

 said, he followed the suggestion, and swallowed glass 

 after glass with considerable gusto. He then got into 

 the gig which was waiting at the door, but soon 

 became conscious that he had overstepped the bounds 

 of prudence ; he was, however, in full possession of 

 his senses, and had no fear of being unable to keep 

 his balance. 



Arriving at the inn at Eedbourn where the coach 

 changed horses, he found the horses put to, and the 

 passengers all seated. The proprietor, who lived 

 there, looked very serious, and the coachman who 

 had brought the coach up was standing by his side, 

 with an ominous smile upon his face. 



Considering silence most discreet, Avithout saying a 

 word he took hold of the reins, and mounted without 

 any difiiculty, determined, as he thought, to be 

 doubly particular and careful. According to the 

 usual arrangement, he pulled up at St. Albans for a 



