Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/123

Rh Others, still lower and more daring, knock off the hat, if it be a good one, and run away with it. The sufferer having received a pretty hard blow with hand or stick, is not in a condition immediately to follow; and the pilferer, though a mean one, is safe enough from harm in a few seconds. Mr. Tufton was thus served in St. James's place (January, 15, 1818;) but the shabby perpetrator ran to a passage of the park which had then no outlet, and was taken accordingly.

Some again wait about the park, at the King's Mews, or wherever errand boys or porters set down their loads—the former to play, the latter to drink; and while they are in the midst of their fun, away goes the goods committed to their care. A few go about who are false porters, or a kind of dog-sheep, who contrive to talk or toss up for gin, with the real ones, and meanwhile "ring the changes" by walking off with their loads. Upon opening the exchanged package, stones, or bricks, or (if a cask) vapid water, is found to inhabit a tolerably good looking external.

Not many years ago, a lot of young miscreants used to wait the coming out of day-scholars of an afternoon, at dusk; and, affecting to be full of lark, make off with their hats, books, or great