Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/61

Rh Few such cases are brought before the magistrates; but I repeat it, they happen oftener than would readily be supposed. On that account it is, I have dwelt upon particulars so long, in order that my readers may learn to avoid the dangers that thus surround them. To which let me add,—let them look out sharp upon hearing a whistling or calling, even although the latter should be but a person's name (man or woman), or the former, the ingenious imitation of the canary bird's call. The fag-end of a song is a good signal sometimes; though the words may not be appropriate, they convey a meaning previously agreed upon, and are as intelhgible to each other as Greek to a Greek, or the sign and counter-sign to the guard that visits a military out-post.

N.B. If two persons are in company, it is the safest method, at late hours and dangerous places, to walk at some distance from each other—say from six to eight yards.; it would require double numbers to attack both at once, besides the chance there would be of one of you running away and making a row, if both attacks did not take place simultaneously. Moreover, strangers to town in particular should be careful not to let others know what money or valuables they carry about them; and the town-bred knowing-ones