coming in again before we had finished, we
seduced him without scruple into taking a cup of boiling comfort, while
we guiltily collected the waifs and strays of our multifarious luggage.
Many a time I have waited, myself, in the coach, while similar orgies
were going on among the unready, so I know just how vexed and impatient
the passengers were. But what use to go on without the driver? At last
we squeezed into the full stage.

III.

No sooner in than out, however. I was determined not to die before my
time, as I was sure to do on the back-seat of an overloaded stage, with
nine passengers, besides numerous, because gratuitously earned,
children. "For who," as it was sometimes pertinently asked, "would
charge anything for a poor little innocent child?" The younger, the more
innocent, of course, and the more numerous.

"If you'll set up here 'long o' me, Miss Prince, there's a plenty o'
room,--and for you, too, Parson," said the good-natured driver.

Extricating ourselves from the Black Hole, we delightedly clambered to
the heights above, regardless of risk, and catching at wheel and step
like Alpine hunters. How comfortable the seat was, with the fresh, early
morning air blowing freely in our faces! How small the horses looked in
the dim light of three o'clock! How oddly the wheel-horses looked, all
backs and no legs!--and how mysteriously many were the reins that were
tied round and round the iron lantern-rod!

"Just let me put the mail-bag under your feet, Miss Prince. Here we are,
now, all right, and nothin' to do but go along!"

"Now, then!"

"Come up! come! come!"

But in vain were caresses; in vain were chirrups, duckings, and kisses,
wafted to the nigh leader. Like the rebellious South of to-day, he had
taken his attitude, and stood now on four legs, now on two, pawing only
the dark air, and regardless of the general welfare behind him.

"Now what will you do, driver?" said cowardly I, who, always mortally
afraid of horse-flesh, felt on this occasion a strange confidence:
partly in the staid, heavy mass of determination beside me, who looked
so calm and good-natured; and partly in the queer, elfin look of the
beast, who seemed so far off as to have no necessary connection with our
safety or ultimate progress. It seemed quite possible for us to get on
with the other three pulling, while our demoniacal friend ornamented the
occasion by plunges, rearings, and kickings.

Still gathering the reins light