PETER. 
39 
as they crossed our heav}' path. And now I will show 
the reader how it was that we got into our singular 
vehicle, and how the “ animals’' were persuaded to make 
a start. 
It was at the Fountain Inn, the head-quarters of the 
mail-coach line, that we had agreed to rendezvous ; and, 
having assembled there at sunrise on the appointed morn- 
ing, we exchanged four shillings sterling for as many 
cups of warm water, about seven grains of coflEee, half an 
ounce of rancid butter, and four slices of stale bread, 
which we called breakfast; and then, providing oui’selves 
with a bunch of Manilla cheroots each, climbed up to our 
seats, and told Peter that ho was at liberty to “ crack his 
whip.” 
Upon receiving this piece of information, the individual 
to whom it was addressed produced a strange sound, 
somewhat between a wdiistle, a grunt, and an exclama- 
tion of surprise, which, much to our astonishment, acted 
like a charm upon tlic four raw-boned animals. Without 
■waiting to impart a gradual motion to the “ coach,” they 
started it with a jump; and, since Jupiter, the goddess 
of Fortune, or some youthful member of the rising genera- 
tion, had put a large stone immediately in fi'ont of our 
left wheel, we started with a most awful jolt, which, on 
account of the absence of springs, was enabled to give 
the warm water, grains of coftee, stale bread, and hall- 
ounce of rancid butter, a very fair idea of what they had 
to expect should our road prove rough. 
By the time we had driven a mile, both the doctor and 
myself were on very sociable terms with our Saxon 
driver; and, before I proceed any further in this veritable 
