England -- Fiction; Strikes and lockouts -- Fiction
But that light, turning upon them everywhere, was more than they had
bargained for, and the whole lot moved away in the best manner that they
could, putting the stealthiest and the quickest foot foremost; each one
devoutly hoping, save the few whose names had been mentioned, that his
own face had not been recognised. Austin, with some of his workmen who
had remained--the greater portion of them were pursuing the
vanquished--raised Abel White. His head was cut, his body bruised, but
no serious damage appeared to have been done. 'Can you walk with
assistance as far as Mr. Rice's shop?' asked Austin.
'I daresay I can, sir, in a minute: I'm a bit giddy now,' was White's
reply, as he leaned his back against the wall, being supported on either
side. 'Sir, what a mercy that you had that light with you!'
'Ay,' shortly replied Austin. 'Quale, there's the blood dripping upon
your sleeve. I will bind my handkerchief round your head, White.
Meanwhile, one of you go and call a cab; it may be better that we get
him at once to the surgeon's.'
A cab was brought, and White assisted into it. Austin accompanied him.
Mr. Rice was at home, and proceeded to examine into the damage. A few
days' rest from work, and a liberal application of sticking-plaster,
would prove efficacious in effecting a cure, he believed. 'What a pity
but the ruffians could be stopped at this game!' the doctor exclaimed to
Austin. 'It will come to attacks more serious if they are not.'
'I think this will do something towards stopping it,' replied Austin.
'Why? do you know any of them?'
Austin nodded. 'A few. It is not a second case of impossible identity,
as was Baxendale's.'
'I'm sure I don't know how I am to go in home in this plight,' exclaimed
White, catching sight of his strapped-up face and head, in a small
looking-glass hanging in Mr. Rice's surgery. 'I shall frighten poor old
father into a fit, and the wife too.'
'I will go on first and prepare them,' said Austin, good-naturedly.
Turning out of the shop on this errand, he found the door blocked up.
The door! nay, the pavement--the street; for it seemed as if all
Daffodil's Delight had collected there. He elbowed his way through them,
and reached White's home. There the news had preceded him, and he found
the deepest distress and excitement reigning, the family having been
informed that Abel was killed. Austin reassured them, made light of the
matter, and departed.
Outside their closed-up home, squatting on the narrow strip of
pavement, their backs against the dirty wall, were Mrs. Dunn and her
children, howling pitiably. They were surrounded with warm partizans,
who spent their breath sympathizing with them, and abusing the landlord.
'How much better that they should go into the workhouse,' exclaimed
Austin. 'They will perish with cold if they remain there.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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