ACCIDENTS. 371 



only waiting for the horses to be put to, that they 

 might resume their journey. 



In one part of the forest were a number of gipsies, 

 who, it seemed, had gone to the spot where the 

 prostrate coach was, and had got it up again. After 

 thanking the assembled group of men, women and 

 children, the coach proceeded, being only about an 

 hour late. 



Euminating on the accident as the journey was 

 resumed, it struck the old coachman that he had 

 neglected to reward the good people who had so 

 promptly and efficiently assisted him in his trouble ; 

 but when he came to unload the hind-boot, he found 

 that he need have been under no uneasiness on that 

 score, as, anticipating his forgetfulness in the hurry 

 of getting oflF, the gipsies had rewarded themselves 

 with two or three baskets of game which had been 

 taken up at Liphook, considering probably that 

 pheasants and hares would be a greater treat to 

 themselves than to the persons to whom the baskets 

 were addressed. 



The old coachman said this accident had qualified 

 him for the service of one of the oldest coach- 

 proprietors in London, whose maxim it was never to 

 employ a man who had not had an upset at some 

 time, for this reason — not having had such an experi- 

 ence, he would not know how to get a coach up again. 



24—2 



