quietly. Away, away, on our
iron steed through Ealing and Hanwell--across the viaduct over the River
Brent, which runs to Brentford--past the pretty church and the dull
lunatic asylum, and so on to Slough, which is passed in twenty-three
minutes after quitting Paddington. Then we reach Taplow, and have just
fifty-five miles to do within the hour. "Crimea" rushes across the
Thames below Maidenhead, with a parting roar, but we shall meet the
river again soon, and run alongside it, by picturesque Pangbourne,
Goring, and Moulsford.

Are we stopping? No, we are only just slackening for Reading. But we
cannot wait. The "Flying Dutchman" has only done about thirty-six of his
seventy-seven miles; he has been forty-two minutes already, and has got
forty-five minutes left to reach Swindon. A long shriek, and Reading is
behind us; then the river flashes out between the trees.

Hurrah! Hurrah! Didcot with its Banbury cakes and tumble-down station is
passed. Hurrah for the "Flying Dutchman," running easily and smoothly,
sixty miles an hour, well within himself. He is not tired, he does not
pant or whistle, he goes calmly, swiftly along.... Here is Swindon--what
o'clock is it? Look! Twelve minutes past one! "Crimea" is punctual to
the minute. Well done, "Dutchman!"

Good-bye, "Crimea," we are going to see your friends in the shops; we
are going to hear some anecdotes of your powers, and your friends'
speedy runs or adventures. We are going to be introduced to "Lightning,"
"Inkerman," and the "Morning Star," the first engine made for the
railway by George Stephenson.

At the works we are courteously received and conducted to the various
shops devoted to the manufacture of the engines and carriages--the
wheels, whistles, rails, cranks, and cylinders, and everything else
connected with the rolling-stock, which brings in money to the
shareholders, and proves that if "a rolling stone gathers no moss,"
rolling-stock does in plenty. Here we find young gentlemen who are
pupils and apprentices at work learning mechanical engineering, and how
to make the future "Flying Dutchmen" and "Zulus."

We see the old "nine feet" Bristol and Exeter engines, and are told how
one once went off the line with the "Dutchman" long ago; but it was a
trifling accident. Our "Dutchman," though he flies, is pretty safe; and
runs free from accident. We see an engine whose boiler burst the other
day, but fortunately hurt no one much. This engine looks very much