The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 313
this morning, there was such an accumulation of water, that a mill-
head gave way, just as the coach was passing under it, and the flood
rushed down with such impetuosity, as first floated, and then fairly
overturned the carriage in the middle of the stream—Lismahago
and I, and the two servants, alighting instantaneously, ran into the
river to give all the assistance in our power.—Our aunt, Mrs.
Tabitha, who had the good fortune to be uppermost, was already
half way out of the coach window, when her lover approaching,
disengaged her entirely; but, whether his foot slipt, or the burthen
was too great, they fell over head and ears in each other’s arms. He
endeavoured more than once to get up, and even to disentangle
himself from her embrace, but she hung about his neck like a mill-
stone, (no bad emblem of matrimony), and if my man had not
proved a staunch auxiliary, those two lovers would in all probability
have gone hand in hand to the shades below—For my part, I was
too much engaged to take any cognizance of their distress.—I
snatched out my sister by the hair of the head, and, dragging her
to the bank, recollected that my uncle had not yet appeared—
Rushing again into the stream, I met Clinker hauling ashore Mrs.
Jenkins, who looked like a mermaid with her hair dishevelled about
her ears; but, when I asked if his master was safe, he forthwith
shook her from him, and she must have gone to pot, if a miller had
not seasonably come to her relief.—As for Humphry, he flew like
lightning to the coach, that was by this time filled with water, and,
diving into it, brought up the poor ’squire, to all appearance,
deprived of life—It is not in my power to describe what I felt at
this melancholy spectacle—it was such an agony as baffles all
description! The faithful Clinker, taking him up in his arms, as if
he had been an infant of six months, carried him ashore, howling
most piteously all the way, and I followed him in a transport of
grief and consternation—When he was laid upon the grass, and
turned from side to side, a great quantity of water ran out at his
mouth, then he opened his eyes, and fetched a deep sigh—Clinker
perceiving these signs of life, immediately tied up his arm with a
garter, and, pulling out a horse-fleam, let him blood in the farrier
style.—At first a few drops only issued from the orifice; but the
limb being chafed, in a little time the blood began to flow in a con-
tinued stream, and he uttered some incoherent words, which were
the most welcome sounds that ever saluted my ear. There was a
country inn hard by, the landlord of which had by this time come