No!' rejoined Sam triumphantly. 'Nor never vill; and there's another

thing that no man never see, and that's a dead donkey. No man never

see a dead donkey 'cept the gen'l'm'n in the black silk smalls as

know'd the young 'ooman as kep' a goat; and that wos a French

donkey, so wery likely he warn't wun o' the reg'lar breed.'

Well, what has that got to do with the postboys?' asked Bob Sawyer.

This here,' replied Sam. 'Without goin' so far as to as-sert, as some

wery sensible people do, that postboys and donkeys is both immortal,

wot I say is this: that wenever they feels theirselves gettin' stiff and

past their work, they just rides off together, wun postboy to a pair in

the usual way; wot becomes on 'em nobody knows, but it's wery

probable as they starts avay to take their pleasure in some other

vorld, for there ain't a man alive as ever see either a donkey or a

postboy a-takin' his pleasure in this!'

Expatiating upon this learned and remarkable theory, and citing

many curious statistical and other facts in its support, Sam Weller

beguiled the time until they reached Dunchurch, where a dry postboy

and fresh horses were procured; the next stage was Daventry, and the

next Towcester; and at the end of each stage it rained harder than it

had done at the beginning.

'I say,' remonstrated Bob Sawyer, looking in at the coach window, as

they pulled up before the door of the Saracen's Head, Towcester, 'this

won't do, you know.'

'Bless me!' said Mr Pickwick, just awakening from a nap, 'I'm afraid

you're wet.'

Oh, you are, are you?' returned Bob. 'Yes, I am, a little that way,

Uncomfortably damp, perhaps.'

Bob did look dampish, inasmuch as the rain was streaming from his

neck, elbows, cuffs, skirts, and knees; and his whole apparel shone so

with the wet, that it might have been mistaken for a full suit of

prepared oilskin.

'I AM rather wet,' said Bob, giving himself a shake and casting a little

hydraulic shower around, like a Newfoundland dog just emerged from

the water.

I think it's quite impossible to go on to-night,' interposed Ben.

Out of the question, sir,' remarked Sam Weller, coming to assist in

the conference; 'it's a cruelty to animals, sir, to ask 'em to do it.

There's beds here, sir,' said Sam, addressing his master, 'everything

The Pickwick Papers