CHAP. XI.

HOW HE MET WITH SEVERAL

OTHER ACCIDENTS, AND GOT

SAFE то TOWN AT LAST.

MRS. GILPIN, and her com

pany being still in the balcony, they plainly efpied poor Gilpin full speed on the road, unable to stop, or check his horfe, and giving the greatest expectation of his being every minute thrown off and dashed to pieces.

Alarmed at his no less perilous, than ludicrous fituation, Mrs. Gil

pin pulled out half a crown, which The promised the youth that had driven her to Edmonton, if he would ride after her husband, and bring him back again fafe and well.

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The youth readily undertook the task, and instantly faddling one of the horses belonging to the chaise,. immediately rode after John Gilpin, and not long after came up with him; but feizing faft the flowing rein, in order to stop his horfe, he only made things much worfe, for not being able to keep his hold, he but frightened the creature, and made him run the fafter. Away went. Gilpin,,

I.

1. 3.

Gilpin! and away went poft-boy after him! both glad to clear themselves of the carriages they met.

As ill luck would have it, fix gentlemen, who had been spending the day together, happened to be upon the road, and feeing poor Gilpin ride at fuch a rate, with the postboy fcampering after him, they raised the bue and cry; and nothing but "stop thief! Stop thief! a highwayman !" was heard, and every one paffing by joining in the purfuit.

The only chance that poor John Gilpin now had, was, that the turnpike gates would be fhut against

him, and the unruly creature thereby stopped; but in this he was unhappily deceived, for the turnpike men still thinking that he had rode a race, as before, threw open all the gates, and let him through, unwilling that he should lofe his wager on their account.

In short, every one on the road no fooner beheld poor Gilpin, than they immediately concluded, that he was actually riding for a fum of money. This, however, is most certain, that had he run a race, he furely would have won it, as he got first to town; nor could he once ftop his horse, until he got backagain

again to the place where he first mounted it..

Mrs. Gilpin and the family, hearing no tidings of John Gilpin, posted to town with all poffible expedition after him, and had the fatisfaction of finding him juft put into a warm bed, from which he rofe the next morning in perfect good health..

Notwithstanding the dangers to which poor Gilpin had been expofed, he was particularly fortunate in having escaped without any other hurt, than that of a very flight fracture in the fkin, juft above the

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