He knew that the whip was about to descend on his quivering body.

And so it did, and there was no one by to interfere.

No one but a woman in a ragged shawl who would have no influence with the driver.

There was a very good humane society in Fairport, and none of the teamsters dared ill-use their horses if any of the members were near.

This was a quiet out-of-the-way street, with only poor houses on it, and the man probably knew that none of the members of the society would be likely to be living in them.