But the wary Billy was too quick for her.
Stepping lightly aside, he eluded her reach, and left her to fall forward with a heavy crash on the pavement amid the howls and cheers of the brutal crowd.
Quick as thought the boy snatched up his box and brushes, and dived head-first into the crowd just where I stood.

There was a cry of "Stop him!" "Fetch him back!" on all hands, and one young fellow near me actually made a grab at the poor boy and caught him by the arm.

It was no time for ceremony or parley.

It had been all I could do to stand still and watch the sickening spectacle.

Now it should not be my fault if, just to please a party of blackguards, the whole thing was to be repeated.
With an angry shout of "Let him go!" I sprang at the fellow and struck him full on the chest.