"'Oo are these blokes?"he asked uneasily.
"Pals o'mine,all good men an'true,"said Chook,gaily.
They were near Eveleigh Station,and the street was clear.The red signal-lights,like angry,bloodshot eyes,followed the curve of the line as it swept into the terminus.An engine screamed hoarsely as it swept past with a rattle of jolting metal and the hum of swiftly revolving wheels.The time was come to strike,but the Push hesitated.The show of resistance,the spark to kindle their brutal fury,was wanting.
"Is this a prayer meetin'?"inquired Waxy Collins,with a sneer."Biff him on the boko,an'we'll finish 'im in one act.""Shut yer face,"said Jonah,and he stepped up to the bricklayer.
"Ever 'ear tell of a copper boiler?"he inquired pleasantly.
"Ever meet a bleedin'bastard as put the cops on a bloke,an'got 'im three months''ard?"he inquired again.
The bricklayer stared at him open-mouthed,surprised and alarmed by the appearance of this misshapen devil with the glittering eyes.Then a sudden suspicion ran through the fuddled brain.
"I niver lagged 'im;s'elp me Gawd,I niver put nobody away to the cops!"he cried.
"Yer rotten liar,take that!"cried Jonah,and struck him full on the mouth with his fist.The man clapped his hand to his cut lip,and looked at the blood in amazement.The shock cleared his brain,and he remembered with terror the tales of deadly revenge taken by the pushes.He looked wildly for help.He was in a ring of mocking,menacing faces.
"Let 'im out,"cried Jonah,in a sharp,strident voice."The swine lives about 'ere;give 'im a run for 'is money."The Push opened out,and the man,sobered by his danger,stood for a moment with bewildered eyes.Then,with the instinct of the hunted,he turned for home and ran.The Push gave chase,with Chook in the lead.
Again and again the quarry turned,blindly seeking refuge in the darkest lanes.
As his pursuers gained on him he gave a hoarse scream--the dolorous cry of a hunted animal.