But the mail laughs at these
terrors. To robbers, the answer is packed up and ready for delivery in
the barrel of the guard's blunderbuss. Rats again! there _are_ none
about mail-coaches any more than snakes in Von Troil's Iceland;
[Footnote: "_Von Troil's Iceland_":--The allusion is to a well-
known chapter in Von Troil's work, entitled, "Concerning the Snakes of
Iceland." The entire chapter consists of these six words--"_There art
no snakes in Iceland_."] except, indeed, now and then a parliamentary
rat, who always hides his shame in what I have shown to be the "coal-
cellar." And, as to fire, I never knew but one in a mail-coach; which
was in the Exeter mail, and caused by an obstinate sailor bound to
Devonport. Jack, making light of the law and the lawgiver that had set
their faces against his offence, insisted on taking up a forbidden seat
[Footnote: "_Forbidden seat_":--The very sternest code of rules was
enforced upon the mails by the Post-office. Throughout England, only
three outsides were allowed, of whom one was to sit on the box, and the
other two immediately behind the box; none, under any pretext, to come
near the guard; an indispensable caution; since else, under the guise
of a passenger, a robber might by any one of a thousand advantages--
which sometimes are created, but always are favoured, by the animation
of frank social intercourse--have disarmed the guard.
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