e a rush at the
boy I believed to have thrown, he gave way and the others opened out to
let me pass, and then closed up and followed.

It was a foolish movement on my part, and I found I had lost ground, for
to get on my way again I had to pass through a body of about a dozen
lads, and the only way to do this as they gathered themselves ready to
receive me, was by making a bold rush through them.

They were already whispering together, and one of them cried "Now!" when
I made a rush at them, stick in hand, running as fast as I could.

They made a show of stopping me, but opened out directly, and as soon as
I had passed yelled to their companions to come on, with the result that
I found I could not stop unless I stood at bay, and that I was doing the
very thing I had determined not to do--racing away from my pursuers,
who, in a pack of about forty, were yelling, crying, and in full chase.

To stop now was impossible: all that was open to me was to run hard and
get into the more open suburb, leaving them behind, while I had the
satisfaction of knowing that before long the bells at the different
works would be ringing, and the young vagabonds obliged to hurry back to
their places, leaving me free to maintain my course.

So that, now I was involuntarily started, I determined to leave my
pursuers behind, and I ran.

I don't think I ever ran so fast before, but fast as I ran I soon found
that several of the lightly clothed old-looking lads were more than my
equals, and they kept so close that some half a dozen were ready to rush
in on me at any moment and seize me and drag me back.

I was determined, though, that they should not do that, and, grasping my
stick, I ran on, more blindly, though, each moment. 'Tis true, I
thought of making for the outskirts and tiring the boys out; but to my
dismay I found that fresh lads kept joining in the chase, all eager and
delighted to have something to run down and buffet, while my breath was
coming thickly, my heart beat faster and faster, and there was a
terrible burning sensation in my chest.

I looked to right for some means of escape, but there was none; to left
was the same; behind me the tolling pack; while before me stretched the
lanes, and mill after mill with great dams beyond them similar to ours.

I should have stopped at bay, hoping by facing the lads to keep them
off; but I was streaming with perspiration, and so weak that I knew, in
spite of my excitement, that I s