A horse-drawn cab came down the street, and as it approached, the guard at the gate turned out, and challenged the driver. "Halt!" they shouted. "Ah, g'long with you!" the driver replied, whipping up his horse. "Halt!" they called again, and a third time "Halt!" but the driver did not heed them, and then they fired at him.... There was a clatter of hooves on the street, and the horse fell to the ground, striking sparks from the stones as it struggled to rise again. The driver did not pause: he jumped from his box with amazing celerity and disappeared so swiftly that the rebels could not catch him. And while the horse lay struggling on the street, a motor-car came by, and again the rebels sent out their challenge, and again the challenge was ignored. "Halt! Halt! Halt!..." The chauffeur drove on, and the rebels fired on the occupants of the car. There was a swift application of brakes, and the car slithered up against the pavement ... and as it slithered, a man stood up beside the driver, holding his hand to his side, and yelled, "Oh, I'm dead! I'm dead!..." The chauffeur hurried away.... The rebels gathered round the shrieking man. "Why didn't you stop when we challenged you!" they demanded. "Aw! Aw! Aw!" he answered.... "Like a stuck pig!" thought Henry. "Squealing like a stuck pig!" His head was rolling, but he was able to walk. "He's not much hurt," Henry murmured to himself, "but he's damned frightened." "Aw, what did ye do it for? Aw! Aw! Aw!..." "Take him to the hospital!..." They led him a little way towards the hospital of St. Vincent de Paul, and then, for some reason, changed their minds, and took him into the Park. It was difficult now to see what was happening. There was a derelict tram near the club, and beyond that, still pawing at the ground, was the wounded horse.... "Why don't they shoot the poor beast!" Henry exclaimed. But it would not enter their minds to put the animal out of pain. They were Catholics, and Catholic peoples, the world over, are cruel to beasts. Too intent on pitying their own souls, to have pity on animals.... |