Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/32

16 being a stranger, or living at the outskirts of town, and is certain of attracting attention to his awkwardness (a thing always to be avoided.) A pickpocket will hustle such an one against his accomplice in the day time; the stranger will be irritated no doubt, and express his indignation, which will be the better for the rogues: in a half-minute's altercation, they get the best of the jaw, because the loudest and most impudent;—a spar or two ensues, in which he who pretends to support the stranger to the ways of town, draws him of his pocket-book, or his watch, if he has either, a fact they take care to ascertain beforehand. Money in the breeches pockets, can only be come at in a crowd, or by flooring the victim; the former of which is most usually, but the latter very seldom, performed in the day-time.

From all this, my reader will see the necessity of cautiously, yet energetically, pursuing his way, without dread or doubt; since it is better to walk a little out of the right path, than run the risk of being directed wrong: to steer clear of assemblages in the streets, by going round them, or pressing rather rudely through them; whereby you become the assailant, if I may be allowed the term, and add one more chance of steering clear of danger.