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doubtless he had his work cut out for him with this particular
gigful！ Fenn rescued his toes with an ejaculation from under the
departing wheels； and turned at once with uncertain steps and
devious lantern to the far end of the court。 There； through the
open doors of a coach…house； the shock…headed lad was already to be
seen drawing forth the covered cart。 If I wished any private talk
with our host； it must be now or never。
Accordingly I groped my way downstairs； and came to him as he
looked on at and lighted the harnessing of the horses。
'The hour approaches when we have to part；' said I； 'and I shall be
obliged if you will tell your servant to drop me at the nearest
point for Dunstable。 I am determined to go so far with our
friends； Colonel X and Major Y； but my business is peremptory； and
it takes me to the neighbourhood of Dunstable。'
Orders were given to my satisfaction； with an obsequiousness that
seemed only inflamed by his potations。
CHAPTER XIV … TRAVELS OF THE COVERED CART
MY companions were aroused with difficulty： the Colonel； poor old
gentleman； to a sort of permanent dream； in which you could say of
him only that he was very deaf and anxiously polite； the Major
still maudlin drunk。 We had a dish of tea by the fireside； and
then issued like criminals into the scathing cold of the night。
For the weather had in the meantime changed。 Upon the cessation of
the rain； a strict frost had succeeded。 The moon； being young； was
already near the zenith when we started； glittered everywhere on
sheets of ice； and sparkled in ten thousand icicles。 A more
unpromising night for a journey it was hard to conceive。 But in
the course of the afternoon the horses had been well roughed； and
King （for such was the name of the shock…headed lad） was very
positive that he could drive us without misadventure。 He was as
good as his word； indeed； despite a gawky air； he was simply
invaluable in his present employment； showing marked sagacity in
all that concerned the care of horses； and guiding us by one short
cut after another for days； and without a fault。
The interior of that engine of torture； the covered cart； was
fitted with a bench； on which we took our places； the door was
shut； in a moment； the night closed upon us solid and stifling； and
we felt that we were being driven carefully out of the courtyard。
Careful was the word all night； and it was an alleviation of our
miseries that we did not often enjoy。 In general； as we were
driven the better part of the night and day； often at a pretty
quick pace and always through a labyrinth of the most infamous
country lanes and by…roads； we were so bruised upon the bench； so
dashed against the top and sides of the cart； that we reached the
end of a stage in truly pitiable case； sometimes flung ourselves
down without the formality of eating； made but one sleep of it
until the hour of departure returned； and were only properly
awakened by the first jolt of the renewed journey。 There were
interruptions； at times； that we hailed as alleviations。 At times
the cart was bogged； once it was upset； and we must alight and lend
the driver the assistance of our arms； at times； too （as on the
occasion when I had first encountered it）； the horses gave out； and
we had to trail alongside in mud or frost until the first peep of
daylight； or the approach to a hamlet or a high road； bade us
disappear like ghosts into our prison。
The main roads of England are incomparable for excellence； of a
beautiful smoothness； very ingeniously laid down； and so well kept
that in most weathers you could take your dinner off any part of
them without distaste。 On them； to the note of the bugle； the mail
did its sixty miles a day； innumerable chaises whisked after the
bobbing postboys； or some young blood would flit by in a curricle
and tandem； to the vast delight and danger of the lieges。 On them；
the slow…pacing waggons made a music of bells； and all day long the
travellers on horse…back and the travellers on foot （like happy Mr。
St。 Ives so little a while before！） kept coming and going； and
baiting and gaping at each other； as though a fair were due； and
they were gathering to it from all England。 No； nowhere in the
world is travel so great a pleasure as in that country。 But
unhappily our one need was to be secret； and all this rapid and
animated picture of the road swept quite apart from us； as we
lumbered up hill and down dale； under hedge and over stone； among
circuitous byways。 Only twice did I receive； as it were； a whiff
of the highway。 The first reached my ears alone。 I might have
been anywhere。 I only knew I was walking in the dark night and
among ruts； when I heard very far off； over the silent country that
surrounded us； the guard's horn wailing its signal to the next
post…house for a change of horses。 It was like the voice of the
day heard in darkness； a voice of the world heard in prison； the
note of a cock crowing in the mid…seas … in short； I cannot tell
you what it was like； you will have to fancy for yourself … but I
could have wept to hear it。 Once we were belated： the cattle could
hardly crawl； the day was at hand； it was a nipping； rigorous
morning； King was lashing his horses； I was giving an arm to the
old Colonel； and the Major was coughing in our rear。 I must
suppose that King was a thought careless； being nearly in
desperation about his team； and； in spite of the cold morning；
breathing hot with his exertions。 We came； at last； a little
before sunrise to the summit of a hill； and saw the high…road
passing at right angles through an open country of meadows and
hedgerow pollards； and not only the York mail； speeding smoothly at
the gallop of the four horses； but a post…chaise besides； with the
post…boy titupping briskly； and the traveller himself putting his
head out of the window； but whether to breathe the dawn； or the
better to observe the passage of the mail； I do not know。 So that
we enjoyed for an instant a picture of free life on the road； in
its most luxurious forms of despatch and comfort。 And thereafter；
with a poignant feeling of contrast in our hearts； we must mount
again into our wheeled dungeon。
We came to our stages at all sorts of odd hours； and they were in
all kinds of odd places。 I may say at once that my first
experience was my best。 Nowhere again were we so well entertained
as at Burchell Fenn's。 And this； I suppose； was natural； and
indeed inevitable； in so long and secret a journey。 The first
stop； we lay six hours in a barn standing by itself in a poor；
marshy orchard； and packed with hay； to make it more attractive； we
were told it had been the scene of an abominable murder； and was
now haunted。 But the day was beginning to break； and our fatigue
was too extreme for visionary terrors。 The s