374 THE COACHING AGE. 



He also recounts another incident arising froi 

 heavy fog, but unattended with anything in the "v 

 of an accident. 



' I recollect a singular circumstance occasioned 

 a fog. There were eight mails that- passed throi 

 Hounslow — the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Strc 

 took the right-hand road from Hounslow ; the Exe 

 YeovU, Poole, and " Quicksilver," Devonport (wh 

 was the one I was driving), went the straight ri 

 towards Staines. We always saluted each ot 

 when passing with " Good-night, Bill," " Dick," 

 " Harry," as the case might be. I was once pass 

 a mail, mine being the fastest, and gave my won 

 salute. A coachman named Downs was driving 

 Stroud mail. He instantly recognised my voice, i 

 said, " Charley, what are you doing on my roac 

 It was he, however, who had made the mistake ; 

 had taken the Staines instead of the Slough roa,d 

 of Hounslow. We both pulled up immediately ; 

 had to turn round and go back, which was a i 

 attended with much difficulty in such a fog. Hac 

 not been for our usual salute, he would not hi 

 discovered his mistake before arriving at Staines.' 

 ■ While accidents were frequently attended w 

 serious consequences to the passengers, the sa 

 results were generally experienced by the proprietc 

 especially if the accident arose from any carelessn 



