pared, with many half-suppressed moans, again to encounter the piercing blast which swept across the open country.
They were little more than a stage out of Grantham, or about half way between it and Newark, when Nicholas, who had been asleep for a short time, was suddenly roused by a violent jerk which nearly threw him from his seat. Grasping the rail, he found that the coach had sunk greatly on one side, though it was still dragged forward by the horses; and while—confused by their plunging and the loud screams of the lady inside—he hesitated for an instant whether to jump off or not, the vehicle turned easily over, and relieved him from all further uncertainty by flinging him into the road.
CHAPTER VI.
IN WHICH THE OCCURRENCE OF THE ACCIDENT MENTIONED IN THE LAST CHAPTER, AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY TO A COUPLE OF GENTLEMEN TO TELL STORIES AGAINST EACH OTHER.
"Wo ho!" cried the guard, on his legs in a minute, and running to the leaders' heads. "Is there ony genelmen there, as can len' a hand here? Keep quiet, dang ye. Wo ho!"
"What's the matter?" demanded Nicholas, looking sleepily up.
"Matther mun, matther eneaf for one neight," replied the guard; "dang the wall-eyed bay, he's gane mad wi' glory I think, carse t'coorch is over. Here, can't ye len a hond? Dom it, I'd ha' dean it if all my boans were brokken."
"Here!" cried Nicholas, staggering to his feet, "I'm ready. I'm only a little abroad, that's all."
"Hoold 'em toight," cried the guard, "while ar coot treaces. Hang on tiv 'em sumhoo. Weel deame, my lad. That's it. Let 'em goa noo. Dang 'em, they'll gang whoam fast eneaf."
In truth, the animals were no sooner released than they trotted back with much deliberation to the stable they had just left, which was distant not a mile behind.
"Can you blo' a harn?" asked the guard, disengaging one of the coach-lamps.
"I dare say I can," replied Nicholas.
"Then just blo' away into that 'un as lies on the grund, fit to wakken the deead, will'ee," said the man, "while I stop sum o' this here squealing inside. Cumin', cumin'; dean't make that noise, wooman."
As the man spoke he proceeded to wrench open the uppermost door of the coach, while Nicholas seizing the horn, awoke the echoes far and wide with one of the most extraordinary performances on that instrument ever heard by mortal ears. It had its effect however, not only in rousing such of the passengers as were recovering from the stunning effects of
