the ragged trousered philanthropists-第106部分

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　was　that　two　or　three　of　those　who　had　been　drinking　more　than　was　good　for　them　dropped　the　still　burning　ends　of　their　cigars；　all　wet　with　saliva　as　they　were；　into　the　hat　and　Dick　Wantley　spit　into　it。

The　girl　hastily　returned　to　her　companions；　and　as　she　went　some　of　the　men　who　had　witnessed　the　behaviour　of　those　who　had　insulted　her；　advised　them　to　make　themselves　scarce；　as　they　stood　a　good　chance　of　getting　a　thrashing　from　the　girl's　friends。　　They　said　it　would　serve　them　dam'　well　right　if　they　did　get　a　hammering。

Partly　sobered　by　fear；　the　three　culprits　sneaked　off　and　hid　themselves；　pale　and　trembling　with　terror；　under　the　box　seats　of　the　three　brakes。　　They　had　scarcely　left　when　the　men　of　the　glee　party　came　running　up；　furiously　demanding　to　see　those　who　had　insulted　the　girl。　　As　they　could　get　no　satisfactory　answer；　one　of　their　number　ran　back　and　presently　returned；　bringing　the　girl　with　him；　the　other　young　women　following　a　little　way　behind。

She　said　she　could　not　see　the　men　they　were　looking　for；　so　they　went　down　to　the　public　house　to　see　if　they　could　find　them　there；　some　of　the　Rushton's　men　accompanying　them　and　protesting　their　indignation。



The　time　passed　quickly　enough　and　by　half　past　seven　the　brakes　were　loaded　up　again　and　a　start　made　for　the　return　journey。

They　called　at　all　the　taverns　on　the　road；　and　by　the　time　they　reached　the　Blue　Lion　half　of　them　were　three　sheets　in　the　wind；　and　five　or　six　were　very　drunk；　including　the　driver　of　Crass's　brake　and　the　man　with　the　bugle。　　The　latter　was　so　far　gone　that　they　had　to　let　him　lie　down　in　the　bottom　of　the　carriage　amongst　their　feet；　where　he　fell　asleep；　while　the　others　amused　themselves　by　blowing　weird　shrieks　out　of　the　horn。

There　was　an　automatic　penny…in…the…slot　piano　at　the　Blue　Lion　and　as　that　was　the　last　house　of　the　road　they　made　a　rather　long　stop　there；　playing　hooks　and　rings；　shove…ha'penny；　drinking；　singing；　dancing　and　finally　quarrelling。

Several　of　them　seemed　disposed　to　quarrel　with　Newman。　　All　sorts　of　offensive　remarks　were　made　at　him　in　his　hearing。　　Once　someone　ostentatiously　knocked　his　glass　of　lemonade　over；　and　a　little　later　someone　else　collided　violently　with　him　just　as　he　was　in　the　act　of　drinking；　causing　his　lemonade　to　spill　all　over　his　clothes。　　The　worst　of　it　was　that　most　of　these　rowdy　ones　were　his　fellow　passengers　in　Crass's　brake；　and　there　was　not　much　chance　of　getting　a　seat　in　either　of　the　other　carriages；　for　they　were　overcrowded　already。

From　the　remarks　he　overheard　from　time　to　time；　Newman　guessed　the　reason　of　their　hostility；　and　as　their　manner　towards　him　grew　more　menacing；　he　became　so　nervous　that　he　began　to　think　of　quietly　sneaking　off　and　walking　the　remainder　of　the　way　home　by　himself；　unless　he　could　get　somebody　in　one　of　the　other　brakes　to　change　seats　with　him。

Whilst　these　thoughts　were　agitating　his　mind；　Dick　Wantley　suddenly　shouted　out　that　he　was　going　to　go　for　the　dirty　tyke　who　had　offered　to　work　under　price　last　winter。

It　was　his　fault　that　they　were　all　working　for　sixpence　halfpenny　and　he　was　going　to　wipe　the　floor　with　him。　　Some　of　his　friends　eagerly　offered　to　assist；　but　others　interposed；　and　for　a　time　it　looked　as　if　there　was　going　to　be　a　free　fight；　the　aggressors　struggling　hard　to　get　at　their　inoffensive　victim。

Eventually；　however；　Newman　found　a　seat　in　Misery's　brake；　squatting　on　the　floor　with　his　back　to　the　horses；　thankful　enough　to　be　out　of　reach　of　the　drunken　savages；　who　were　now　roaring　out　ribald　songs　and　startling　the　countryside；　as　they　drove　along；　with　unearthly　blasts　on　the　coach　horn。

Meantime；　although　none　of　them　seemed　to　notice　it；　the　brake　was　travelling　at　a　furious　rate；　and　swaying　about　from　side　to　side　in　a　very　erratic　manner。　　It　would　have　been　the　last　carriage；　but　things　had　got　a　bit　mixed　at　the　Blue　Lion　and；　instead　of　bringing　up　the　rear　of　the　procession；　it　was　now　second；　just　behind　the　small　vehicle　containing　Rushton　and　his　friends。

Crass　several　times　reminded　them　that　the　other　carriage　was　so　near　that　Rushton　must　be　able　to　hear　every　word　that　was　said；　and　these　repeated　admonitions　at　length　enraged　the　Semi…drunk；　who　shouted　out　that　they　didn't　care　a　br　if　he　could　hear。　　Who　the　bloody　hell　was　he？　　To　hell　with　him！

‘Damn　Rushton；　and　you　too！'　cried　Bill　Bates；　addressing　Crass。　‘You're　only　a　dirty　toe…rag！　　That's　all　you　are　…　a　bloody　rotter！　That's　the　only　reason　you　gets　put　in　charge　of　jobs　…　'cos　you're　a　good　nigger…driver！　　You're　a　bloody　sight　worse　than　Rushton　or　Misery　either！　　Who　was　it　started　the　one…man；　one…room　dodge；　eh？　Why；　you；　yer　bleeder！'

‘Knock　'im　orf　'is　bleedin'　perch；'　suggested　Bundy。

Everybody　seemed　to　think　this　was　a　very　good　idea；　but　when　the　Semi…drunk　attempted　to　rise　for　the　purpose　of　carrying　it　out；　he　was　thrown　down　by　a　sudden　lurch　of　the　carriage　on　the　top　of　the　prostrate　figure　of　the　bugle　man　and　by　the　time　the　others　had　assisted　him　back　to　his　seat　they　had　forgotten　all　about　their　plan　of　getting　rid　of　Crass。

Meantime　the　speed　of　the　vehicle　had　increased　to　a　fearful　rate。

Rushton　and　the　other　occupants　of　the　little　wagonette　in　front　had　been　for　some　time　shouting　to　them　to　moderate　the　pace　of　their　horses；　but　as　the　driver　of　Crass's　brake　was　too　drunk　to　understand　what　they　said　he　took　no　notice；　and　they　had　no　alternative　but　to　increase　their　own　speed　to　avoid　being　run　down。　　The　drunken　driver　now　began　to　imagine　that　they　were　trying　to　race　him；　and　became　fired　with　the　determination　to　pass　them。　　It　was　a　very　narrow　road；　but　there　was　just　about　room　to　do　it；　and　he　had　sufficient　confidence　in　his　own　skill　with　the　ribbons　to　believe　that　he　could　get　past　in　safety。

The　terrified　gesticulations　and　the　shouts　of　Rushton's　party　only　served　to　infuriate　him；　because　he　imagined　that　they　were　jeering　at　him　for　not　being　able　to　overtake　them。　　He　stood　up　on　the　footboard　and　lashed　the　horses　till　they　almost　flew　over　the　ground；　while　the　carriage　swayed　and　skidded　in　a　fearful　manner。

In　front；　the　horses　of　Rushton's　conveyance　were　also　galloping　at　top　speed；　the　vehicle　bounding　and　reeling　from　one　side　of　the　road　to　the　other；　whilst　its　terrified　occupants；　whose　faces　were　blanched　with　apprehension；　sat　clinging　to　their　seats　and　to　each　other；　their　eyes　projecting　from　the　sockets　as　they　gazed　back　with　terror　at　their　pursuers；　some　of　whom　were　encouraging　the　drunken　driver　with　promises　of　quarts　of　beer；　and　urging　on　the　homes　with　curses　and　yells。

Crass's　fat　face　was　pallid　with　fear　as　he　clung　trembling　to　his　seat。　　Another　man；　very　drunk　and　oblivious　of　everything；　was　leaning　over　the　side　of　the　brake；　spewing　into　the　road；　while　the　remainder；　taking　no　interest　in　the　race；　amused　themselves　by　singing　…　conducted　by　the　Semi…drunk　…　as　loud　as　they　could　roar：

　　　　　　　　‘Has　anyone　seen　a　Germin　band；　　　　　　　　　Germin　Band；　Germin　Band？　　　　　　　　　I've　been　Iookin'　about；　　　　　　　　　Pom　…　Pom；　Pom；　Pom；　Pom！

　　　　　　　　‘I've　searched　every　pub；　both　near　and　far；　　　　　　　　　Near　and　far；　near　and　far；　　　　　　　　　I　want　my　Fritz；　　　　　　　　　What　plays　tiddley　bits　　　　　　　　　On　the　big　trombone！'

The　other　two　brakes　had　fallen　far　behind。　　The　one　presided　over　by　Hunter　contained　a　mournful　crew。　　Nimrod　himself；　from　the　effects　of　numerous　drinks　of　ginger　beer　with　secret　dashes　of　gin　in　it；　had　become　at　length　crying　drunk；　and　sat　weeping　in　gloomy　silence　beside　the　driver；　a　picture　of　lachrymose　misery　and　but　dimly　conscious　of　his　surroundings；　and　Slyme；　who　rode　with　Hunter　because　he　was　a　fellow　member　of　the　Shining　Light　Chapel。　　Then　there　was　another　paperhanger　…　an　unhappy　wretch　who　was　afflicted　with　religious　mania；　he　had　brought　a　lot　of　tracts　with　him　which　he　had　distributed　to　the　other　men；　to　the　villagers　of　Tubberton　and　to　anybody　else　who　would　take　them。

Most　of　the　other　men　who　rode　in　Nimrod's　brake　were　of　the　‘religious'　working　man　type。　　Ignorant；　shallow…pated　dolts；　without　as　much　intellectuality　as　an　average　cat。　　Attendants　at　various　PSAs　and　‘Church　Mission　Halls'　who　went　every　Sunday　afternoon　to　be　lectured　on　their　duty　to　their　betters　and　to　have　their　minds　…　save　the　mark！　…　addled　and　stultified　by　such　persons　as　Rushton；　Sweater；　Didlum　and　Grinder；　not　to　mention　such　mental　specialists　as　the　holy　reverend　Belchers　and　Boshers；　and　such　persons　as　John　Starr。

At　these　meetings　none　of　the　‘respectable'　working　men　were　allowed　to　ask　any　questions；　or　to　object　to；　or　find　fault　with　anything　that　was　said；　or　to　argue；　or　discuss；　or　criticize。　　They　had　to　sit　there　like　a　lot　of　children　while　they　were　lectured　and　preached　at　and　patronized。　　Even　as　sheep　before　their　shearers　are　dumb；　so　they　were　not　permitted　to　open　their　mouths。　　For　that　matter　they　did　not　wish　to　be　allowed　to　ask　any　questions；　or　to　discuss　anything。　　They　would　not　have　been　able　to。　　They　sat　there　and　listened　to　what　was　said；　but　they　had　but　a　very　hazy　conception　of　what　it　was　all　about。

Most　of　them　belonged　to　these　PSAs　merely　for　the　sake　of　the　loaves　and　fishes。　　Every　now　and　then　they　were　awarded　prizes　…　Self…help　by　Smiles；　and　other　books　suitable　for　perusal　by　persons　suffering　from　almost　complete　obliteration　of　the　mental　faculties。　　Besides　other　benefits　there　was　usually　a　Christmas　Club　attached　to　the　‘PSA'　or　‘Mission'　and　the　things　were　sold　to　the　members　slightly　below　cost　as　a　reward　for　their　servility。

They　were　for　the　most　part　tame；　broken…spirited；　poor　wretches　who　contentedly　resigned　themselves　to　a　life　of　miserable　toil　and　poverty；　and　with　callous　indifference　abandoned　their　offspring　to　the　same　fate。　　Compared　with　such　as　these；　the　savages　of　New　Guinea　or　the　Red　Indians　are　immensely　higher　in　the　scale　of　manhood。　　They　are　free！　　They　call　no　man　master；　and　if　they　do　not　enjoy　the　benefits　of　science　and　civilization；　neither　do　they　toil　to　create　those　things　for　the　benefit　of　others。　　And　as　for　their　children　…　most　of　those　sava