At the same time the pony became restless, it tossed its head, pricked up its ears, it started, pranced, and then made a bound to one side, entirely regardless of whip and rein. It tried to scramble up the sand-bank in its alarm, and I had to throw myself off and catch its head. I then cast a glance behind me at the turnpike. I saw the bar bent, as though someone were pressing against it; then, with a click, it flew open, and was dashed violently back against the white post to which it was usually hasped in the day-time. There it remained, quivering from the shock. Immediately I heard the rattle--rattle--rattle--of the tax-cart. I confess that my first impulse was to laugh, the idea of a ghostly tax-cart was so essentially ludicrous; but the _reality_ of the whole scene soon brought me to a graver mood, and, remounting Taffy, I rode down to the station. The officials were taking their ease, as another train was not due for some while; so I stepped up to the station-master and entered into conversation with him. After a few desultory remarks, I mentioned the circumstances which had occurred to me on the road, and my inability to account for them. "So that's what you're after!" said the master somewhat bluntly. "Well, I can tell you nothing about it; sperits don't come in my way, saving and excepting those which can be taken inwardly; and mighty comfortable warming things they be when so taken. If you ask me about other sorts of sperits, I tell you flat I don't believe in 'em, though I don't mind drinking the health of them what does." "Perhaps you may have the chance, if you are a little more communicative," said I. "Well, I'll tell you all I know, and that is precious little," answered the worthy man. "I know one thing for certain--that one compartment of a second-class carriage is always left vacant between Brighton and Hassocks Gate, by the 9.30 up-train." "For what purpose?" "Ah! that's more than I can fully explain. Before the orders came to this effect, people went into fits and that like, in one of the carriages." "Any particular carriage?" "The first compartment of the second-class carriage nearest to the engine. It is locked at Brighton, and I unlock it at this station." "What do you mean by saying that people had fits?" "I mean that I used to find men and women a-screeching and a-hollering like mad to be let out; they'd seen some'ut as had frightened them as they was passing through the Clayton tunnel. That was before they made the arrangement I told y' of." "Very strange!" said I meditatively. "Wery much so, but true for all that. _I_ don't believe in nothing but sperits of a warming and cheering nature, and them sort ain't to be found in Clayton tunn'l to my thinking." There was evidently nothing more to be got out of my friend. I hope that he drank my health that night; if he omitted to do so, it was his fault, not mine.