I waited patiently till he got near the upper end of the park, taking bets every minute; and now that he was away, every one offered to wager.

At last, when I had let him get nearly half round, and found no more money could be had, I called out to his friends for the porter, and, throwing myself into the saddle, gathered up the reins in my hand.

The crowd fell back on each side, while from the tent I have already mentioned came a thin fellow with one eye, with a pewter quart in his hand: he lifted it up towards me, and I took it; but what was my fright to find that the porter was boiling, and the vessel so hot I could barely hold it.

I endeavoured to drink, however: the first mouthful took all the skin off my lips and tongue--the second half choked, and the third nearly threw me into an apoplectic fit--the mob cheering all the time like devils.

Meantime, the old fellow had reached the furze, and was going along like fun.