I knew by the look of things that it was not a very pleasant place to go to.

But of course they could not be supposed to know any thing of the kind, and their very ignorance made them rash.
"Well, I walked along after them, not knowing what might turn up, but determined to keep them in sight.

Those beggars with chairs were not to be trusted, and the ladies had gold enough about them to tempt violence.

What a reckless old devil of a chaperon she was, to let those young girls go! So I walked on, cursing all the time the conventionalities of civilization that prevented me from giving them warning.

They were rushing straight on into danger, and I had to keep silent.
"On reaching the foot of the cone a lot of fellows came up to them, with chairs and straps, and that sort of thing.