按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
style。 The idea to be conveyed is that you usually drive a pair of horses；
but that for the moment you have mislaid the other one。 The German
driver is not what we should call a first…class whip。 He is at his best
when he is asleep。 Then； at all events； he is harmless； and the horse
being； generally speaking； intelligent and experienced； progress under
these conditions is comparatively safe。 If in Germany they could only
train the horse to collect the money at the end of the journey； there would
be no need for a coachman at all。 This would be a distinct relief to the
passenger； for when the German coachman is awake and not cracking his
whip he is generally occupied in getting himself into trouble or out of it。
He is better at the former。 Once I recollect driving down a steep Black
Forest hill with a couple of ladies。 It was one of those roads winding
corkscrew…wise down the slope。 The hill rose at an angle of seventy…five
on the off…side； and fell away at an angle of seventy…five on the near…side。
We were proceeding very comfortably； the driver； we were happy to notice；
with his eyes shut； when suddenly something； a bad dream or indigestion；
awoke him。 He seized the reins； and； by an adroit movement； pulled the
near…side horse over the edge； where it clung； half supported by the traces。
Our driver did not appear in the least annoyed or surprised； both horses； I
also； noticed； seemed equally used to the situation。 We got out； and he
got down。 He took from under the seat a huge clasp…knife； evidently kept
there for the purpose； and deftly cut the traces。 The horse； thus released；
rolled over and over until he struck the road again some fifty feet below。
There he regained his feet and stood waiting for us。 We re…entered the
carriage and descended with the single horse until we came to him。 There；
with the help of some bits of string； our driver harnessed him again； and
we continued on our way。 What impressed me was the evident
accustomedness of both driver and horses to this method of working down
a hill。
Evidently to them it appeared a short and convenient cut。 I should
not have been surprised had the man suggested our strapping ourselves in；
and then rolling over and over； carriage and all； to the bottom。
Another peculiarity of the German coachman is that he never attempts
140
… Page 141…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
to pull in or to pull up。 He regulates his rate of speed； not by the pace of
the horse； but by manipulation of the brake。 For eight miles an hour he
puts it on slightly； so that it only scrapes the wheel； producing a
continuous sound as of the sharpening of a saw； for four miles an hour he
screws it down harder； and you travel to an accompaniment of groans and
shrieks； suggestive of a symphony of dying pigs。 When he desires to
come to a full stop； he puts it on to its full。 If his brake be a good one； he
calculates he can stop his carriage； unless the horse be an extra powerful
animal； in less than twice its own length。 Neither the German driver nor
the German horse knows； apparently； that you can stop a carriage by any
other method。 The German horse continues to pull with his full strength
until he finds it impossible to move the vehicle another inch； then he rests。
Horses of other countries are quite willing to stop when the idea is
suggested to them。 I have known horses content to go even quite slowly。
But your German horse； seemingly； is built for one particular speed； and is
unable to depart from it。 I am stating nothing but the literal； unadorned
truth； when I say I have seen a German coachman； with the reins lying
loose over the splash…board； working his brake with both hands； in terror
lest he would not be in time to avoid a collision。
At Waldshut； one of those little sixteenth…century towns through which
the Rhine flows during its earlier course； we came across that exceedingly
common object of the Continent： the travelling Briton grieved and
surprised at the unacquaintance of the foreigner with the subtleties of the
English language。 When we entered the station he was； in very fair
English； though with a slight Somersetshire accent； explaining to a porter
for the tenth time； as he informed us； the simple fact that though he
himself had a ticket for Donaueschingen； and wanted to go to
Donaueschingen； to see the source of the Danube； which is not there；
though they tell you it is； he wished his bicycle to be sent on to Engen and
his bag to Constance； there to await his arrival。 He was hot and angry
with the effort of the thing。 The porter was a young man in years； but at
the moment looked old and miserable。 I offered my services。 I wish
now I had notthough not so fervently； I expect； as he； the speechless one；
came subsequently to wish this。 All three routes； so the porter explained
141
… Page 142…
THREE MEN ON THE BUMMEL
to us； were complicated； necessitating changing and re…changing。 There
was not much time for calm elucidation； as our own train was starting in a
few minutes。 The man himself was volublealways a mistake when
anything entangled has to be made clear； while the porter was only too
eager to get the job done with and so breathe again。 It dawned upon me
ten minutes later； when thinking the matter over in the train； that though I
had agreed with the porter that it would be best for the bicycle to go by
way of Immendingen； and had agreed to his booking it to Immendingen； I
had neglected to give instructions for its departure from Immendingen。
Were I of a despondent temperament I should be worrying myself at the
present moment with the reflection that in all probability that bicycle is
still at Immendingen to this day。 But I regard it as good philosophy to
endeavour always to see the brighter side of things。 Possibly the porter
corrected my omission on his own account； or some simple miracle may
have happened to restore that bicycle to its owner