Following the high road, I came, in a little, to where the ways
divided, the one leading straight before me, the other turning
sharp to the left, where (as I remember) is a very steep hill.
And at the parting of the ways was a finger-post with the words:
"To LONDON. To TONBRIDGE WELLS. To PEMBRY." Now as I stood
beneath the finger-post, debating which road I should take, I was
aware of the sound of wheels, and, glancing about, saw a carrier's
cart approaching. The driver was a fine, tall, ruddy-faced fellow,
very spruce as to his person, who held himself with shoulders.
squared and bolt upright, and who shouted a cheery greeting to me.
"If so be you are for Pembry, or thereabouts, sir," said he,
bringing his horses to a standstill, "why, jump up, sir--that is,
if you be so minded."
"My course lies anywhere," said I.
"Then--if you be so minded--?"
"I am so minded," said I.
"Then, sir, jump up," said he.
"Thanks!" said I.
So I climbed upon the seat beside him, and then I saw that he had
a wooden leg, and straightway understood his smart bearing, and
general neat appearance.
"You have been a soldier?" said I.
"And my name's Tom, and I could tell you a sight about them
Spanishers, and Frenchies--that is, if--you be so minded?"
"I am so minded; fire away, Tom."
"Well," he began, fixing his eyes on the "wheeler's" ears, "they
Frenchies ain't so bad as is thought, though they do eat frogs,
but what I say is--if they be so minded, why frogs let it be!"
"To be sure!" said I.
"And after all they're well worth fighting, and that's more than
you can say for a many!"
"True," said I, "one generally has a certain respect for the man
one fights."
"Then there's Old Bony."
"Have you ever seen him?"
"I have, sir; I were captured outside the Lines of Torres Vedras,
and I saw Old Bony eating his breakfast off a drum-head wi' one
hand and a-writing a dispatch wi' the other--a little fat man not
so high as my shoulder, look you. There's some as says as Old
Bony lives on new-born babies, but I know different. Because
why, says you? Because I've seen with these 'ere 'peepers,'
says I--bread it were, and cheese, and garlic, and a uncommon
lot at that."