"Well, if yer lost a chance, somebody else collared it, an' w'ere were yer ?" The police, variously named "Johns", "cops" and "traps", were their natural enemies.

If one of the Push got into trouble, the others clubbed together and paid his fine; and if that failed, they made it hot for the prosecutors.

Generally their offences were disorderly conduct, bashing their enemies, and resisting the police.
Both Jonah and Chook worked for a living--Chook by crying fish and vegetables in the streets, Jonah by making and mending for Hans Paasch, the German shoemaker on Botany Road.

But Chook often lacked the few shillings to buy his stock-in-trade, and Jonah never felt inclined for work till Wednesday.

Then he would stroll languidly down to the shop.
The old German would thrust out his chin, and blink at him over his glasses.