ted to slacken speed;
but suspecting his passengers to be afraid, he only flogged the brutes
into a still more furious gallop. Observing this, Mr. Stephenson coolly
said, "Let us try him on the other tack; tell him to show us the fastest
pace at which Spanish mules can go." The rogue of a driver, when he
found his tricks of no avail, pulled up and proceeded at a more moderate
speed for the rest of the journey.

Urgent business required Mr. Stephenson's presence in London on the last
day of November. They travelled therefore almost continuously, day and
night; and the fatigue consequent on the journey, added to the privations
voluntarily endured by the engineer while carrying on the survey among
the Spanish mountains, began to tell seriously on his health. By the
time he reached Paris he was evidently ill, but he nevertheless
determined on proceeding. He reached Havre in time for the Southampton
boat; but when on board, pleurisy developed itself, and it was necessary
to bleed him freely. During the voyage, he spent his time chiefly in
dictating letters and reports to Sir Joshua Walmsley, who never left him,
and whose kindness on the occasion he gratefully remembered. His friend
was struck by the clearness of his dictated composition, which exhibited
a vigour and condensation which to him seemed marvellous. After a few
weeks' rest at home, Mr. Stephenson gradually recovered, though his
health remained severely shaken.

[Picture: Newcastle, from the High Level Bridge]

CHAPTER XVI.
ROBERT STEPHENSON'S CAREER--THE STEPHENSONS AND BRUNEL--EAST COAST ROUTE
TO SCOTLAND--ROYAL BORDER BRIDGE, BERWICK--HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE, NEWCASTLE.

The career of George Stephenson was drawing to a close. He had for some
time been gradually retiring from the more active pursuit of railway
engineering, and confining himself to the promotion of only a few
undertakings in which he took a more than ordinary personal interest. In
1840, when the extensive main lines in the Midland districts had been
finished and opened for traffic, he publicly expressed his intention of
withdrawing from the profession. He had reached sixty, and, having spent
the greater part of his life in very hard work, he naturally desired rest
and retirement in his old age. There was the less necessity for his
continuing "in harness," as Robert Stephenson was now in full career as a
leading railway engineer, and his father had pleasure in handing