"Dirty young vagabonds!" I said to myself, and I looked at them
contemptuously with as much effect as if I had directed my severe looks
at a market basket; and then I went and leaned against the end of the
cart, determined to take no notice of them, and wishing that Ike would
come back.
The young rascals only grew more impudent though, and came nearer, two
in particular, and one of them, quite a little fellow with a big head
and two small dark shiny eyes, over which his shock head of hair kept
falling, ran right in, making charges at me, and striking at me with a
muddy little fist, while his companion made pokes with a stick.
This was getting beyond bearing, for I was not a wild beast in a cage
unable to get away; but still I determined not to be led into any
disgraceful struggle with the dirty little blackguards.
I was not afraid of them, for I was too angry for that, and nothing
would have given me greater satisfaction than to have come to blows.
But that would not do, I knew.
I glanced round and saw that there were plenty of people about, but they
were all too busy with their own affairs to take much notice of me, so
that if I wanted to free myself from the pack of young ruffians I must
act for myself.
The attack went on, and I should have fared worse, only that it soon
became evident that ammunition was running short; and failing this, the
boys began to throw words, while the two most daring kept making rushes
at me and then shrank back ready to throw themselves down if I should
strike at them.
All at once I thought of Ike's great cart-whip, and in the full
confidence that I could make it crack as loudly and as well as its
master I determined to give it a good whish or two in the air.
It was stuck high up in one of the staples in the front of the cart,
and, determined to climb up and reach it down, I turned and raised one
foot to a spoke of the great wheel, when the two foremost boys uttered a
yell and made a furious onslaught upon me.
They were too late, for in an instant I had seen the object of their
advance. There was no doubt about it. They were keeping my attention
from what was going on upon the other side, where one of their
companions had been stealing along under cover of some baskets, and was
just in the act of untying one of the coils of nearly new rope, which
had not been required and hung from the ladder.
The young thief had that moment finished, and slipped his arm through,
catching sight of me at the same time, and darting off.