2o6 COURSING 



shortened by two or three hours. "We were informed that 

 4.4s P.M. was the appointed hour, and when four o'clock 

 arrived we were just finishing close to the Sea Wall, nearly 

 four miles from the station. I was very anxious to get to 

 town, as my 'copy' was required as soon as possible, and 

 bearing this in mind I made the best of my way across the 

 marshes, almost at a run. When I reached the village the 

 church clock showed that it was already a quarter to five, but 

 I jumped into a tradesman's trap that was standing about, and 

 was at the railway in another five minutes. I need not have 

 hurried, for the waiting-room was full of coursers who had come 

 on before, and they all reported that not only had the special not 

 started, but that it had been sent down to Port Victoria, instead 

 of being shunted into the Cliffe siding. The officials, however, 

 told us they expected it back every moment, and so we waited, 

 an impromptu concert taking place in the waiting-room. 

 Meanwhile half an hour passed, and still no train — an hour, 

 and then another quarter, when (at six o'clock) a porter began 

 to ring a bell furiously. We all rushed on to the platform, only 

 to be told that 'the bell meant six o'clock, time to change 

 hands in the Signal Cabin.' Another quarter was passed, and 

 then someone suddenly fancied that a green light, a long way 

 down the line, was moving towards us. The porter could give 

 no information, but the betting fraternity began to gamble over 

 the apparition, and in about ten minutes it was placed beyond 

 doubt that the lamp was moving towards us. Everyone 

 waited anxiously, wondering whether this was the special, and 

 when lighted compartments were discerned our fears were set 

 at rest. On came the train, the pace increasing as it neared 

 the platform, and as it steamed slowly /aj-/ the crowd, someone 

 shouted out to the functionary whose head was seen looking 

 out of the van, ' Is that the special, guard ? ' ' Oh no, sir,' 

 was the reply. ' This is a yesterday's train that was lost in the 

 fog ; we're now taking it back to Charing Cross.' 



The day before had been extremely foggy — indeed, coursing 

 had been interrupted for some hours — and the official, like 



