Война миров

           ItwasperhapsavagueideaofmakinghiswaytoChelmsford,wheresomefriendsofhislived,thatatlastinducedmybrothertostrikeintoaquietlanerunningeastward. Presentlyhecameuponastile,and,crossingit,followedafootpathnortheastward. Hepassednearseveralfarmhousesandsomelittleplaceswhosenameshedidnotlearn. Hesawfewfugitivesuntil,inagrasslanetowardsHighBarnet,hehappenedupontwoladieswhobecamehisfellowtravellers. Hecameuponthemjustintimetosavethem. 

           Heheardtheirscreams,and,hurryingroundthecorner,sawacoupleofmenstrugglingtodragthemoutofthelittlepony-chaiseinwhichtheyhadbeendriving,whileathirdwithdifficultyheldthefrightenedpony’shead. Oneoftheladies,ashortwomandressedinwhite,wassimplyscreaming; theother,adark,slenderfigure,slashedatthemanwhogrippedherarmwithawhipsheheldinherdisengagedhand. 

           Mybrotherimmediatelygraspedthesituation,shouted,andhurriedtowardsthestruggle. Oneofthemendesistedandturnedtowardshim,andmybrother,realisingfromhisantagonist’sfacethatafightwasunavoidable,andbeinganexpertboxer,wentintohimforthwithandsenthimdownagainstthewheelofthechaise. 

           Itwasnotimeforpugilisticchivalryandmybrotherlaidhimquietwithakick,andgrippedthecollarofthemanwhopulledattheslenderlady’sarm. Heheardtheclatterofhoofs,thewhipstungacrosshisface,athirdantagoniststruckhimbetweentheeyes,andthemanheheldwrenchedhimselffreeandmadeoffdownthelaneinthedirectionfromwhichhehadcome. 

           Partlystunned,hefoundhimselffacingthemanwhohadheldthehorse’shead,andbecameawareofthechaiserecedingfromhimdownthelane,swayingfromsidetoside,andwiththewomeninitlookingback.