You ought to fold your arms and draw in your feet, and when you find that we are going over, go in an easy attitude, with all the muscles relaxed, as if your body was a bag of corn." The passenger laughed and took his arm in; and all the other passengers, seeing that the advice of the gentleman was reasonable, concluded to follow it if they should have occasion.

And they did have occasion sooner than they had expected.

For, just after dark, as they were going down a long hill at a pretty rapid rate, with a wagon a short distance before them, one of the horses of the wagon stumbled and fell, which brought the wagon to a sudden stand just before the coach.

The driver perceived in an instant that there was not time to stop his horses, and that the only chance was to turn out of the road and drive by.

The ground at the road-side was so much inclined, that he was almost afraid to venture this expedient, but he had no time for thought.