CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. 



XIX 



At Pesaro, I had a tough contest with the 

 postmaster, a cunning, positive, black-eyed native 

 of Italy. He saw that we were bent on proceeding ; 

 and he forced us to take more post-horses than we 

 had ever taken before. 



At Case Brusciate our journey had nigh well 

 terminated sadly to our cost. One horse fell down 

 whilst going at a gallop ; and in An instant, both 

 itself and the off leader were on their backs in the 

 ditch along side of the road. How it hap- 

 pened that they did not drag the carriage after 

 them, I cannot comprehend. The forewheel sank 

 deep in the soft earth, which partially gave way 

 under the weight. Had the carriage moved a trifle 

 more, nothing could have prevented a total smash. 



Although exposed to imminent danger, my sisters 

 behaved nobly, Not a shriek, not a sigh escaped 

 from their mouths ; and when w r e had managed to 

 get them out of the carriage, they retired to a safe 

 distance from it, with wonderful composure, and 

 silently awaited the termination. But on many 

 other occasions when danger has been apprehended, 

 their self- command has been worthy of all admiration. 



In the meantime, the prostrate leader kept 

 striking out at intervals, till at last his foot got 

 jammed in the spokes of the fore-wheel. Our 

 position was bad indeed. Every moment I expected 



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