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The Exodus From London
Thenhebegantolookoutforachanceofedgingtotherightacrosstheroad. Butonceinthestreamheseemedtolosevolition,tobecomeapartofthatdustyrout. TheysweptthroughChippingBarnetwiththetorrent;theywerenearlyamilebeyondthecentreofthetownbeforetheyhadfoughtacrosstotheoppositesideoftheway. Itwasdinandconfusionindescribable;butinandbeyondthetowntheroadforksrepeatedly,andthistosomeextentrelievedthestress.
TheystruckeastwardthroughHadley,andthereoneithersideoftheroad,andatanotherplacefartherontheycameuponagreatmultitudeofpeopledrinkingatthestream,somefightingtocomeatthewater. Andfartheron,fromalullnearEastBarnet,theysawtwotrainsrunningslowlyoneaftertheotherwithoutsignalororder—trainsswarmingwithpeople,withmenevenamongthecoalsbehindtheengines—goingnorthwardalongtheGreatNorthernRailway. MybrothersupposestheymusthavefilledoutsideLondon,foratthattimethefuriousterrorofthepeoplehadrenderedthecentralterminiimpossible.
Nearthisplacetheyhaltedfortherestoftheafternoon,fortheviolenceofthedayhadalreadyutterlyexhaustedallthreeofthem. Theybegantosufferthebeginningsofhunger;thenightwascold,andnoneofthemdaredtosleep. Andintheeveningmanypeoplecamehurryingalongtheroadnearbytheirstoppingplace,fleeingfromunknowndangersbeforethem,andgoinginthedirectionfromwhichmybrotherhadcome.
