Toseeouryoungmen，brightlydressedandcigarettesalight，wheelingofftotherendezvous，Grubbguidingthelady’smachinebesidehimwithoneskilfulhandandBertteuf—teuffingsteadily，wastorealisehowpluckmaytriumphevenoverinsolvency。Theirlandlord，thebutcher，said，\"Gurr，\"astheypassed，andshouted，\"Goit！\"inaloud，savagetonetotheirrecedingbacks。
Muchtheycared！
Theweatherwasfine，andthoughtheywereontheirwaysouthwardbeforenineo’clock，therewasalreadyagreatmultitudeofholidaypeopleabroadupontheroads。Therewerequantitiesofyoungmenandwomenonbicyclesandmotor—bicycles，andamajorityofgyroscopicmotor—carsrunningbicycle—fashionontwowheels，mingledwithold—fashionedfour—wheeledtraffic。BankHolidaytimesalwaysbringoutoldstored—awayvehiclesandoddpeople;onesawtricarsandelectricbroughamsanddilapidatedoldracingmotorswithhugepneumatictyres。Onceourholiday—
makerssawahorseandcart，andonceayouthridingablackhorseamidstthebadinageofthepassersby。Andtherewereseveralnavigablegasair—ships，nottomentionballoons，intheair。Itwasallimmenselyinterestingandrefreshingafterthedarkanxietiesoftheshop。Ednaworeabrownstrawhatwithpoppies，thatsuitedheradmirably，andsatinthetrailerlikeaqueen，andtheeight—year—oldmotor—bicycleranlikeathingofyesterday。
LittleitseemedtomattertoMr。BertSmallwaysthatanewspaperplacardproclaimed:——
GERMANYDENOUNCESTHEMONROE
DOCTRINE。
AMBIGUOUSATTITUTDEOFJAPAN。
WHATWILLBRITAINDO？ISITWAR？
Thissortofthingwasalvaysgoingon，andonholidaysonedisregardeditasamatterofcourse。Week—davs，intheslacktimeafterthemiddaymeal，thenperhapsonemightworryabouttheEmpireandinternationalpolitics;butnotonasunnySunday，withaprettygirltrailingbehindone，andenviouscycliststryingtoraceyou。Nordidouryoungpeopleattachanygreatimportancetotheflittingsuggestionsofmilitaryactivitytheyglimpsedeverandagain。NearMaidstonetheycameonastringofelevenmotor—gunsofpeculiarconstructionhaltedbytheroadside，withanumberofbusinesslikeengineersgroupedaboutthemwatchingthroughfield—glassessomesortofentrenchmentthatwasgoingonnearthecrestofthedowns。ItsignifiednothingtoBert。
\"What’sup？\"saidEdna。
\"Oh！——manoeuvres，\"stidBert。
\"Oh！IthoughttheydidthematEaster，\"saidEdna，andtroublednomore。
ThelastgreatBritishwar，theBoerwar，wasoverandforgotten，andthepublichadlostthefashionofexpertmilitarycriticism。
Ourfouryoungpeoplepicnickedcheerfully，andwerehappyinthemannerofahappinessthatwasanancientmodeinNineveh。Eyeswerebright，Grubbwasfunnyandalmostwitty，andBertachievedepigrams;thehedgeswerefullofhoneysuckleanddog—roses;inthewoodsthedistanttoot—toot—tootofthetrafficonthedust—hazyhighroadmighthavebeennomorethanthehornsofelf—land。Theylaughedandgossipedandpickedflowersandmadeloveandtalked，andthegirlssmokedcigarettes。Alsotheyscuffledplayfully。Amongotherthingstheytalkedaeronautics，andhowthevwouldcomeforapicnictogetherinBert’sflying—machinebeforetenyearswereout。Theworldseemedfullofamusingpossibilitiesthatafternoon。Theywonderedwhattheirgreat—grandparentswouldhavethoughtofaeronautics。Intheevening，aboutseven，thepartyturnedhomeward，expectingnodisaster，anditwasonlvonthecrestofthedownsbetweenWrothamandKingsdownthatdisastercame。
Theyhadcomeupthehillinthetwilight;Bertwasanxioustogetasfaraspossiblebeforehelit——orattemptedtolight，fortheissuewasadoubtfulone——hislamps，andtheyhadscorchedpastanumberofcyclists，andbyafour—wheeledmotor—caroftheoldstylelamedbyadeflatedtyre。SomedusthadpenetratedBert’shorn，andtheresultwasacurious，amusing，wheezingsoundhadgotintohis\"honk，honk。\"Forthesakeofmerrimentandgloryhewasmakingthissoundasmuchaspossible，andEdnawasinfitsoflaughterinthetrailer。Theymadeasortofrushingcheerfulnessalongtheroadthataffectedtheirfellowtravellersvariously，accordingtotheirtemperaments。Shedidnoticeagoodlotofbluish，evil—smellingsmokecomingfromaboutthebearingsbetweenhisfeet，butshethoughtthiswasoneofthenaturalconcomitantsofmotor—traction，andtroublednomoreaboutit，untilabruptlyitburstintoalittleyellow—tippedflame。
\"Bert！\"shescreamed。
ButBerthadputonthebrakeswithsuchsuddennessthatshefoundherselfinvolvedwithhislegashedismounted。Shegottothesideoftheroadandhastilyreadjustedherhat，whichhadsuffered。
\"Gaw！\"saidBert。
Hestoodforsomefatalsecondswatchingthepetroldripandcatch，andtheflame，whichwasnowbeginningtosmellofenamelaswellasoil，spreadandgrew。Hischiefideawasthesorrowfulonethathehadnotsoldthemachinesecond—handayearago，andthatheoughttohavedoneso——agoodideainitsway，butnotimmediatelyhelpful。HeturneduponEdnasharply。\"Getalotofwetsand，\"hesaid。Thenhewheeledthemachinealittletowardsthesideoftheroadway，andlaiditdownandlookedaboutforasupplyofwetsand。Theflamesreceivedthisasahelpfulattention，andmadethemostofit。Theyseemedtobrightenandthetwilighttodeepenaboutthem。Theroadwasaflintyroadinthechalkcountry，andill—providedwithsand。
Ednaaccostedashort，fatcyclist。\"Wewantwetsand，\"shesaid，andadded，\"ourmotor’sonfire。\"Theshort，fatcycliststaredblanklyforamoment，thenwithahelpfulcrybegantoscrabbleintheroad—grit。WhereuponBertandEdnaalsoscrabbledintheroad—grit。Othercyclistsarrived，dismountedandstoodabout，andtheirflame—litfacesexpressedsatisfaction，interest，curiositv。\"Wetsand，\"saidtheshort，fatman，scrabblingterribly——\"wetstnd。\"Onejoinedhim。Theythrewhard—earnedhandfulsofroad—gritupontheflames，whichacceptedthemwithenthusiasm。
Grubbarrived，ridinghard。Hewasshoutingsomething。Hesprangoffandthrewhisbicycleintothehedge。\"Don’tthrowwateronit！\"hesaid——\"don’tthrowwateronit！\"Hedisplayedcommandingpresenceofmind。Hebecamecaptainoftheoccasion。
Othersweregladtorepeatthethingshesaidandimitatehisactions。
\"Don’tthrowwateronit！\"theycried。Alsotherewasnowater。
\"Beatitout，youfools！\"hesaid。
Heseizedarugfromthetrailer（itwasanAustrianblanket，andBert’swintercoverlet）andbegantobeatattheburningpetrol。
Forawonderfulminuteheseemedtosucceed。Buthescatteredburningpoolsofpetrolontheroad，andothers，firedbyhisenthusiasm，imitatedhisaction。Bertcaughtupatrailer—cushionandbegantobeat;therewasanothercushionandatable—cloth，andthesealsowereseized。Ayoungheropulledoffhisjacketandjoinedthebeating。Foramomenttherewaslesstalkingthanhardbreathing，andatremendousflapping。Flossie，arrivingontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，cried，\"Oh，myGod！\"andburstloudlyintotears。\"Help！\"shesaid，and\"Fire！\"
Thelamemotor—cararrived，andstoppedinconsternation。A
tall，goggled，grey—hairedmanwhowasdrivinginquiredwithanOxfordintonationandaclear，carefulenunciation，\"CanWEhelpatall？\"
Itbecamemanifestthattherug，thetable—cloth，thecushions，thejacket，weregettingsmearedwithpetrolandburning。ThesoulseemedtogooutofthecushionBertwasswaying，andtheairwasfulloffeathers，likeasnowstorminthestilltwilight。
Berthadgotverydustyandsweatyandstrenuous。Itseemedtohimhisweaponhadbeenwrestedfromhimatthemomentofvictory。Thefirelaylikeadyingthing，closetothegroundandwicked;itgavealeapofanguishateverywhackofthebeaters。ButnowGrubbhadgoneofftostainpouttheburningblanket;theotherswerelackingjustatthemomentofvictory。
Onehaddroppedthecushionandwasrunningtothemotorcar。
\"’ERE！\"criedBert;\"keepon！\"
Heflungthedeflatedburningragsofcushionaside，whippedoffhisjacketandsprangattheflameswithashout。Hestampedintotheruinuntilflamesranuphisboots。Ednasawhim，ared—lithero，andthoughtitwasgoodtobeaman。
Abystanderwashitbyahothalfpennyflyingoutoftheair。
ThenBertthoughtofthepapersinhispockets，andstaggeredback，tryingtoextinguishhisburningjacket——checked，repulsed，dismayed。
EdnawasstruckbythebenevolentappearanceofanelderlyspectatorinasilkhatandSabbaticalgarments。\"Oh！\"shecriedtohim。\"Helpthisyoungman！Howcanyoustandandseeit？\"
Acryof\"Thetarpaulin！\"arose。
Anearnest—lookingmaninaverylightgreycycling—suithadsuddenlyappearedatthesideofthelamemotor—carandaddressedtheowner。\"Haveyouatarpaulin？\"hesaid。
\"Yes，\"saidthegentlemanlyman。\"Yes。We’vegotatarpaulin。\"
\"That’sit，\"saidtheearnest—lookingman，suddenlyshouting。
\"Let’shaveit，quick！\"
Thegentlemanlyman，withfeebleanddeprecatorygestures，andinthemannerofahypnotisedperson，producedanexcellentlargetarpaulin。
\"Here！\"criedtheearnest—lookingmantoGrubb。\"Ketchholt！\"
Theneverybodyrealisedthatanewmethodwastobetried。A
numberofwillinghandsseizedupontheOxfordgentleman’starpaulin。Theothersstoodawaywithapprovingnoises。Thetarpaulinwasheldovertheburningbicyclelikeacanopy，andthensmothereddownuponit。
\"Weoughttohavedonethisbefore，\"pantedGrubb。
Therewasamomentoftriumph。Theflamesvanished。Everyonewhocouldcontrivetodosotouchedtheedgeofthetarpaulin。
Berthelddownacornerwithtwohandsandafoot。Thetarpaulin，bulgedupinthecentre，seemedtobesuppressingtriumphantexultation。Thenitsself—approvalbecametoomuchforit;itburstintoabrightredsmileinthecentre。Itwasexactlyliketheopeningofamouth。Itlaughedwithagustofflames。Theywerereflectedredlyintheobservantgogglesofthegentlemanwhoownedthetarpaulin。Everybodyrecoiled。
\"Savethetrailer！\"criedsomeone，andthatwasthelastroundinthebattle。Butthetrailercouldnotbedetached;itswicker—workhadcaught，anditwasthelastthingtoburn。A
sortofhushfelluponthegathering。Thepetrolburntlow，thewicker—worktrailerbangedandcrackled。Thecrowddivideditselfintoanoutercircleofcritics，advisers，andsecondarycharacters，whohadplayedundistinguishedpartsornopartsatallintheaffair，andacentralgroupofheatedanddistressedprincipals。Ayoungmanwithaninquiringmindandaconsiderableknowledgeofmotor—bicyclesfixedontoGrubbandwantedtoarguethatthethingcouldnothavehappened。Grubbwassshortandinattentivewithhim，andtheyoungmanwithdrewtothebackofthecrowd，andtheretoldthebenevolentoldgentlemaninthesilkhatthatpeoplewhowentoutwithmachinestheydidn’tunderstandhadonlythemselvestoblameifthingswentwrong。
Theoldgentlemanlethimtalkforsometime，andthenremarked，inatoneofrapturousenjoyment:\"Stonedeaf，\"andadded，\"Nastythings。\"
Arosy—facedmaninastrawhatclaimedattention。\"IDIDsavethefrontwheel，\"hesaid;\"you’dhavehadthattyrecatch，too，ifIhadn’tkeptturningitround。\"Itbecamemanifestthatthiswasso。Thefrontwheelhadretaineditstyre，wasintact，wasstillrotatingslowlyamongtheblackenedandtwistedruinsoftherestofthemachine。Ithadsomethingofthatairofconsciousvirtue，ofunimpeachablerespectability，thatdistinguishesarentcollectorinalowneighbourhood。\"Thatwheel’sworthapound，\"saidtherosy—facedman，makingasongofit。\"Ikep’turningitround。\"
Newcomerskeptarrivingfromthesouthwiththequestion，\"What’sup？\"untilitgotonGrubb’snerves。Londonwardthecrowdwasconstantlylosingpeople;theywouldmounttheirvariouswheelswiththesatisfiedmannerofspectatorswhohavehadthebest。
Theirvoiceswouldrecedeintothetwilight;onewouldhearalaughatthememoryofthisparticularlysalientincidentorthat。
\"I’mafraid，\"saidthegentlemanofthemotor—car，\"mytarpaulin’sabitdonefor。\"
Grubbadmittedthattheownerwasthebestjudgeofthat。
\"Nothin，elseIcandoforyou？\"saidthegentlemanofthemotor—car，itmaybewithasuspicionofirony。
Bertwasrousedtoaction。\"Lookhere，\"hesaid。\"There’smyyounglady。Ifsheain’t’omebytentheylockherout。See？
Well，allmymoneywasinmyjacketpocket，andit’sallmixedupwiththeburntstuff，andthat’stoo’ottotouch。ISClaphamoutofyourway？\"
\"Allintheday’swork，\"saidthegentlemanwiththemotor—car，andturnedtoEdna。\"Verypleasedindeed，\"hesaid，\"ifyou’llcomewithus。We’relatefordinnerasitis，soitwon’tmakemuchdifferenceforustogohomebywayofClapham。We’vegottogettoSurbiton，anyhow。I’mafraidyou\"llfindusalittleslow。\"
\"Butwhat’sBertgoingtodo？\"saidEdna。
\"Idon’tknowthatwecanaccommodateBert，\"saidthemotor—cargentleman，\"thoughwe’retremendouslyanxioustooblige。\"
\"Youcouldn’ttakethewholelot？\"saidBert，wavinghishandatthedeboshedandblackenedruinsontheground。
\"I’mawfullyafraidIcan’t，\"saidtheOxfordman。\"Awfullysorry，youknow。\"
\"ThenI’llhavetostick’ereforabit，\"saidBert。\"Igottoseethethingthrough。Yougoon，Edna。\"
\"Don’tlikeleavin’you，Bert。\"
\"Youcan’t’elpit，Edna。\"……
ThelastEdnasawofBertwashisfigure，incharredandblackenedshirtsleeves，standinginthedusk。Hewasmusingdeeplybythemixedironworkandashesofhisvanishedmotor—bicycle，amelancholyfigure。Hisretinueofspectatorshadshrunknowtohalfadozenfigures。FlossieandGrubbwerepreparingtofollowherdesertion。
\"Cheerup，oldBert！\"criedEdna，withartificialcheerfulness。
\"Solong。\"
\"Solong，Edna，\"saidBert。
\"’Seeyouto—morrer。\"
\"Seeyouto—morrer，\"saidBert，thoughhewasdestined，asamatteroffact，toseemuchofthehabitableglobebeforehesawheragain。
Bertbegantolightmatchesfromaborrowedboxful，andsearchforahalf—crownthatstilleludedhimamongthecharredremains。
Hisfacewasgraveandmelancholy。
\"IWISHthat’adn’t’appened，\"saidFlossie，ridingonwithGrubb……
AndatlastBertwasleftalmostalone，asad，blackenedPrometheanfigure，cursedbythegiftoffire。Hehadentertainedvagueideasofhiringacart，ofachievingmiraculousrepairs，ofstillsnatchingsomeresidualvaluefromhisonechiefpossession。Now，inthedarkeningnight，heperceivedthevanityofsuchintentions。Truthcametohimbleakly，andlaidherchillconvictionuponhim。Hetookholdofthehandle—bar，stoodthethingup，triedtopushitforward。Thetyrelesshind—wheelwasjammedhopelessly，evenashefeared。Foraminuteorsohestoodupholdinghismachine，amotionlessdespair。Thenwithagreatefforthethrusttheruinsfromhimintotheditch，kickedatitonce，regarded`itforamoment，andturnedhisfaceresolutelyLondonward。
Hedidnotoncelookback。
\"That’stheendofTHATgame！\"saidBert。\"Nomoreteuf—teuf—teufforBertSmallwavsforayearortwo。Good—bye’Olidays！……Oh！Ioughtto’avesoldtheblastedthingwhenI
hadachancethreeyearsago。\"
3
ThenextmorningfoundthefirmofGrubb&Smallwaysinastateofprofounddespondency。tseemedasmallmattertothemthatthenewspaperandcigaretteshopoppositedisplayedsuchplacardsasthis:——
REPORTEDAMERICANULTIMATUM。
BRITAINMUSTFIGHT。
OURINFATUATEDWAROFFICESTILL
REFUSESTOLISTENTOMR。BUTTERIDGE。
GREATMONO—RAILDISASTERATTIMBUCTOO。
orthis:——
WARAQUESTIONOFHOURS。
NEWYORKCALM。
EXCITEMENTINBERLIN。
oragain:——
WASHINGTONSTILLSILENT。
WHATWILLPARISD0？
THEPANICONTHEBOURSE。
THEKING’SGARDENPARTYTOTHE
MASKEDTWAREGS。
MR。BUTTERIDGETAKESANOFFER。
LATESTBETTINGFROMTEHERAN。
orthis:——
WILLAMERICAFIGHT？
ANTI—GERMANRIOTINBAGDAD。
THEMUNICIPALSCANDALSATDAMASCUS。
MR。BUTTERIDGE’SINVENTIONFORAMERICA。
Bertstaredattheseoverthecardofpump—clipsinthepaneinthedoorwithunseeingeyes。Heworeablackenedflannelshirt，andthejacketlessruinsoftheholidaysuitofyesterday。Theboarded—upshopwasdarkanddepressingbeyondwords，thefewscandaloushiringmachineshadneverlookedsohopelesslydisreputable。Hethoughtoftheirfellowswhowere\"out，\"andoftheapproachingdisputationsoftheafternoon。Hethoughtoftheirnewlandlord，andoftheiroldlandlord，andofbillsandclaims。Lifepresenteditselfforthefirsttimeasahopelessfightagainstfate……
\"Grubb，o’man，\"hesaid，distillingthequintessence，\"I’mfairsickofthisshop。\"
\"So’mI，\"saidGrubb。
\"I’moutofconceitwithit。Idon’tseemtocareevertospeaktoacustomeragain。\"
\"There’sthattrailer，\"saidGrubb，afterapause。
\"Blowthetrailer！\"saidBert。\"Anyhow，Ididn’tleaveadepositonit。Ididn’tdothat。Still——\"
Heturnedroundonhisfriend。\"Look’ere，\"hesaid，\"wearen’tgettin’onhere。Webeenlosingmoneyhandoverfist。Wegotthingstiedupinfiftyknots。\"
\"Whatcanwedo？\"saidGrubb。
\"Clearout。Sellwhatwecanforwhatitwillfetch，andquit。
See？It’snogood’angingontoalosingconcern。Nosortofgood。Jestfoolishness。\"
\"That’sallright，\"saidGrubb——\"that’sallright;butitain’tyourcapitalbeensunkinit。\"
\"Noneedforustosinkafterourcapital，\"saidBert，ignoringthepoint。
\"I’mnotgoingtobeheldresponsibleforthattrailer，anyhow。
Thatain’tmyaffair。\"
\"Nobodyarstyoutomakeityouraffair。Ifyouliketostickonhere，wellandgood。I’mquitting。I’llseeBankHolidaythrough，andthenI’mO—R—P—H。See？\"
\"Leavin’me？\"
\"Leavin’you。Ifyoumustbeleft。\"
Grubblookedroundtheshop。Itcertainlyhadbecomedistasteful。Onceuponatimeithadbeenbrightwithhopeandnewbeginningsandstockandtheprospectofcredit。Now——nowitwasfailureanddust。Verylikelythelandlordwouldberoundpresentlytogoonwiththerowaboutthewindow……\"Whered’youthinkofgoing，Bert？\"Grubbasked。
Bertturnedroundandregardedhim。\"IthoughtitoutasIwaswalking’ome，andinbed。Icouldn’tsleepawink。\"
\"Whatdidyouthinkout？\"
\"Plans。\"
\"Whatplans？\"
\"Oh！You’reforstickin，here。\"
\"Notifanythingbetterwastooffer。\"
\"It’sonlyanideer，\"saidBert\"Youmadethegirlslaughyestiday，thatsongyousang。\"
\"Seemsalongtimeagonow，\"saidGrubb。
\"AndoldEdnanearlycried——overthatbitofmine。\"
\"Shegotaflyinhereye，\"saidGrubb;\"Isawit。Butwhat’sthisgottodowithyourplan？\"
\"Noend，\"saidBert。
\"’Ow？\"
\"Don’tyousee？\"
\"Notsinginginthestreets？\"
\"Streets！Nofear！But’owabouttheTouroftheWaterin’
PlacesofEngland，Grubb？Singing！Youngmenoffamilydoingitforalark？Youain’tgotabadvoice，youknow，andmine’sallright。IneverseeachapsingingonthebeachyetthatI
couldn’t’avesungintoacockedhat。Andwebothknowhowtoputonthetoffabit。Eh？Well，that’smyideer。Meandyou，Grubb，witharefinedsongandabreakdown。Likewewasdoingforfooleryyestiday。Thatwaswhatputitintomy’ead。Easymakeupaprogramme——easy。Sixchoiceitems，andoneortwoforencoresandpatter。I’mallrightforthepatteranyhow。\"
Grubbremainedregardinghisdarkenedanddishearteningshop;hethoughtofhisformerlandlordandhispresentlandlord，andofthegeneraldisgustingnessofbusinessinanagewhichre—echoestoTheBitterCryoftheMiddleClass;andthenitseemedtohimthatafaroffheheardthetwankle，twankleofabanjo，andthevoiceofastrandedsirensinging。Hehadasenseofhotsunshineuponsand，ofthechildrenofitleasttransientlyopulentholidaymakersinacircleroundabouthim，ofthewhisper，\"Theyarereallygentlemen，\"andthendollop，dollopcamethecoppersinthehat。Sometimesevensilver。Itwasallincome;nooutgoings，nobills。\"I’mon，Bert，\"hesaid。
\"Right0！\"saidBert，and，\"Nowweshan’tbelong。\"
\"Weneedn’tstartwithoutcapitalneither，\"saidGrubb。\"IfwetakethebestofthesemachinesuptotheBicycleMartinFinsburywe’draisesixorsevenpoundson’em。Wecouldeasydothattomorrowbeforeanybodymuchwasabout……\"
\"NicetothinkofoldSuet—and—Bonescomingroundtomakehisusualrowwithus，andfindingacardup’ClosedforRepairs。’\"
\"We’lldothat，\"saidGrubbwithzest——\"we’lldothat。Andwe’llputupanothernotice，andjestarstallinquirerstogoroundto’imandinquire。See？Thenthey’llknowallaboutus。\"
Beforethedaywasoutthewholeenterprisewasplanned。TheydecidedatfirstthattheywouldcallthemselvestheNavalMr。
O’s，aplagiarism，andnotperhapsaverygoodone，fromthetitleofthewell—knowntroupeof\"ScarletMr。E’s，\"andBertratherclungtotheideaofauniformofbrightblueserge，withalotofgoldlaceandcordandornamentation，ratherlikeanavalofficer’s，butmoreso。Butthathadtobeabandonedasimpracticable，itwouldhavetakentoomuchtimeandmoneytoprepare。Theyperceivedtheymustwearsomecheaperandmorereadilypreparedcostume，andGrubbfellbackonwhitedominoes。
Theyentertainedthenotionforatimeofselectingthetwoworstmachinesfromthehiring—stock，paintingthemoverwithcrimsonenamelpaint，replacingthebellsbytheloudestsortofmotor—horn，anddoingarideabouttobeginandendtheentertainment。Theydoubtedtheadvisabilityofthisstep。
\"There’speopleintheworld，\"saidBert，\"whowouldn’trecogniseus，who’dknowthembicyclesagainlikeashot，andwedon’twanttogoonwithnooldstories。Wewantafreshstart。\"
\"Ido，\"saidGrubb，\"badly。\"
\"Wewanttoforgetthings——andcutalltheserottenoldworries。
Theyain’tdoin’usgood。\"
Nevertheless，theydecidedtotaketheriskofthesebicycles，andtheydecidedtheircostumesshouldbebrownstockingsandsandals，andcheapunbleachedsheetswithaholecutinthemiddle，andwigsandbeardsoftow。Theresttheirnormalselves！\"TheDesertDervishes，\"theywouldcallthemselves，andtheirchiefsongswouldbethosepopularditties，\"InmyTrailer，\"and\"WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？\"
Theydecidedtobeginwithsmallseasideplaces，andgradually，astheygainedconfidence，attacklargercentres。TobeginwiththeyselectedLittlestoneinKent，chieflybecauseofitsunassumingname。
