blew, but the jack-knifed backs never unclasped. I do not
mind with men, but I have never particularly favoured physical encounters
with women; yet this woman, who encouraged a little girl in iniquity,
tempted me.

I went into the bungalow and fetched my rifle. Flourishing it in a
sanguinary manner and scowling fearsomely, I charged upon the invaders.
The little girl fled, screaming, to the shelter of the pines, but the
woman calmly went on picking. She took not the least notice. I had
expected her to run at sight of me, and it was embarrassing. There was
I, charging down the field like a wild bull upon a woman who would not
get out of the way. I could only slow down, supremely conscious of how
ridiculous it all was. At a distance of ten feet she straightened up and
deigned to look at me. I came to a halt and blushed to the roots of my
hair. Perhaps I really did frighten her (I sometimes try to persuade
myself that this is so), or perhaps she took pity on me; but, at any
rate, she stalked out of my field with great composure, nay, majesty, her
arms brimming with orange and gold.

Nevertheless, thenceforward I saved my lungs and flourished my rifle.
Also, I made fresh generalizations. To commit robbery women take
advantage of their sex. Men have more respect for property than women.
Men are less insistent in crime than women. And women are less afraid of
guns than men. Likewise, we conquer the earth in hazard and battle by
the virtues of our mothers. We are a race of land-robbers and
sea-robbers, we Anglo-Saxons, and small wonder, when we suckle at the
breasts of a breed of women such as maraud my poppy field.

Still the pillage went on. Sirens and gun-flourishings were without
avail. The city folk were great of heart and undismayed, and I noted the
habit of "repeating" was becoming general. What booted it how often they
were driven forth if each time they were permitted to carry away their
ill-gotten plunder? When one has turned the same person away twice and
thrice an emotion arises somewhat akin to homicide. And when one has
once become conscious of this sanguinary feeling his whole destiny seems
to grip hold of him and drag him into the abyss. More than once I found
myself unconsciously pulling the rifle into position to get a sight on
the miserable trespassers. In my sleep I slew them in manifold ways and
threw their carcasses into the reservoir. Each day the temptation to
shoot them in the