ed
without opposition, and Tommy mounted triumphantly his seat, with a whip
in his hand, and began his operations. A crowd of little boys, the sons
of the labourers within, now gathered round the young gentleman, and by
their admiration very much increased his ardour to distinguish himself.
Tommy began to use the common expressions which he had heard coachmen
practise to their horses, and smacked his whip with all the confidence
of an experienced charioteer. Caesar, meanwhile, who did not comprehend
this language, began to be a little impatient, and expressed his
uneasiness by making several bounds and rearing up like a restive horse.
This added very much to the diversion of the spectators, and Tommy, who
considered his honour as materially concerned in achieving the
adventure, began to be a little more warm; and proceeding from one
experiment to another, at length applied a pretty severe lash to the
hinderpart of his steed. This Caesar resented so much that he instantly
set off at three-quarters speed, and dragged the chair with the driver
upon it at a prodigious rate. Tommy now looked round with an infinite
air of triumph, and kept his seat with surprising address and firmness.

Unfortunately there happened to be, at no great distance, a large
horse-pond, which went shelving down to the depth of three or four feet.
Hither, by a kind of natural instinct, the affrighted Caesar ran, when he
found he could not disengage himself from his tormentor; while Tommy,
who now began to repent of his success, endeavoured to pacify and
restrain him. But all his expostulations were vain, for Caesar
precipitately rushed into the pond, and in an instant plunged into the
middle with his charioteer behind him. The crowd of spectators had now a
fresh subject of diversion, and all their respect for Master Tommy could
not hinder them from bursting into shouts of derision. The unfortunate
hero was equally discomposed at the unmannerly exultation of his
attendants, and at his own ticklish situation. But he did not long wait
for the catastrophe of his adventure; for, after a little floundering in
the pond, Caesar, by a vigorous exertion, overturned the chair, and Tommy
came roughly into the water. To add to his misfortune, the pond was at
that time neither ice nor water; for a sudden thaw had commenced the day
before, accompanied by a copious fall of snow. Tommy, therefore, as soon
as he had recovered his footing, floundered on through mud and