Toseeouryoungmen，brightlydressedandcigarettesalight，wheelingofftotherendezvous，Grubbguidingthelady’smachinebesidehimwithoneskilfulhandandBertteuf—teuffingsteadily，wastorealisehowpluckmaytriumphevenoverinsolvency。Theirlandlord，thebutcher，said，"Gurr，"astheypassed，andshouted，"Goit！"inaloud，savagetonetotheirrecedingbacks。
　　Muchtheycared！
　　Theweatherwasfine，andthoughtheywereontheirwaysouthwardbeforenineo’clock，therewasalreadyagreatmultitudeofholidaypeopleabroadupontheroads。Therewerequantitiesofyoungmenandwomenonbicyclesandmotor—bicycles，andamajorityofgyroscopicmotor—carsrunningbicycle—fashionontwowheels，mingledwithold—fashionedfour—wheeledtraffic。BankHolidaytimesalwaysbringoutoldstored—awayvehiclesandoddpeople;onesawtricarsandelectricbroughamsanddilapidatedoldracingmotorswithhugepneumatictyres。Onceourholiday—
　　makerssawahorseandcart，andonceayouthridingablackhorseamidstthebadinageofthepassersby。Andtherewereseveralnavigablegasair—ships，nottomentionballoons，intheair。Itwasallimmenselyinterestingandrefreshingafterthedarkanxietiesoftheshop。Ednaworeabrownstrawhatwithpoppies，thatsuitedheradmirably，andsatinthetrailerlikeaqueen，andtheeight—year—oldmotor—bicycleranlikeathingofyesterday。
　　LittleitseemedtomattertoMr。BertSmallwaysthatanewspaperplacardproclaimed:——
　　GERMANYDENOUNCESTHEMONROE
　　DOCTRINE。
　　AMBIGUOUSATTITUTDEOFJAPAN。
　　WHATWILLBRITAINDO？ISITWAR？
　　Thissortofthingwasalvaysgoingon，andonholidaysonedisregardeditasamatterofcourse。Week—davs，intheslacktimeafterthemiddaymeal，thenperhapsonemightworryabouttheEmpireandinternationalpolitics;butnotonasunnySunday，withaprettygirltrailingbehindone，andenviouscycliststryingtoraceyou。Nordidouryoungpeopleattachanygreatimportancetotheflittingsuggestionsofmilitaryactivitytheyglimpsedeverandagain。NearMaidstonetheycameonastringofelevenmotor—gunsofpeculiarconstructionhaltedbytheroadside，withanumberofbusinesslikeengineersgroupedaboutthemwatchingthroughfield—glassessomesortofentrenchmentthatwasgoingonnearthecrestofthedowns。ItsignifiednothingtoBert。
　　"What’sup？"saidEdna。
　　"Oh！——manoeuvres，"stidBert。
　　"Oh！IthoughttheydidthematEaster，"saidEdna，andtroublednomore。
　　ThelastgreatBritishwar，theBoerwar，wasoverandforgotten，andthepublichadlostthefashionofexpertmilitarycriticism。
　　Ourfouryoungpeoplepicnickedcheerfully，andwerehappyinthemannerofahappinessthatwasanancientmodeinNineveh。Eyeswerebright，Grubbwasfunnyandalmostwitty，andBertachievedepigrams;thehedgeswerefullofhoneysuckleanddog—roses;inthewoodsthedistanttoot—toot—tootofthetrafficonthedust—hazyhighroadmighthavebeennomorethanthehornsofelf—land。Theylaughedandgossipedandpickedflowersandmadeloveandtalked，andthegirlssmokedcigarettes。Alsotheyscuffledplayfully。Amongotherthingstheytalkedaeronautics，andhowthevwouldcomeforapicnictogetherinBert’sflying—machinebeforetenyearswereout。Theworldseemedfullofamusingpossibilitiesthatafternoon。Theywonderedwhattheirgreat—grandparentswouldhavethoughtofaeronautics。Intheevening，aboutseven，thepartyturnedhomeward，expectingnodisaster，anditwasonlvonthecrestofthedownsbetweenWrothamandKingsdownthatdisastercame。
　　Theyhadcomeupthehillinthetwilight;Bertwasanxioustogetasfaraspossiblebeforehelit——orattemptedtolight，fortheissuewasadoubtfulone——hislamps，andtheyhadscorchedpastanumberofcyclists，andbyafour—wheeledmotor—caroftheoldstylelamedbyadeflatedtyre。SomedusthadpenetratedBert’shorn，andtheresultwasacurious，amusing，wheezingsoundhadgotintohis"honk，honk。"Forthesakeofmerrimentandgloryhewasmakingthissoundasmuchaspossible，andEdnawasinfitsoflaughterinthetrailer。Theymadeasortofrushingcheerfulnessalongtheroadthataffectedtheirfellowtravellersvariously，accordingtotheirtemperaments。Shedidnoticeagoodlotofbluish，evil—smellingsmokecomingfromaboutthebearingsbetweenhisfeet，butshethoughtthiswasoneofthenaturalconcomitantsofmotor—traction，andtroublednomoreaboutit，untilabruptlyitburstintoalittleyellow—tippedflame。
　　"Bert！"shescreamed。
　　ButBerthadputonthebrakeswithsuchsuddennessthatshefoundherselfinvolvedwithhislegashedismounted。Shegottothesideoftheroadandhastilyreadjustedherhat，whichhadsuffered。
　　"Gaw！"saidBert。
　　Hestoodforsomefatalsecondswatchingthepetroldripandcatch，andtheflame，whichwasnowbeginningtosmellofenamelaswellasoil，spreadandgrew。Hischiefideawasthesorrowfulonethathehadnotsoldthemachinesecond—handayearago，andthatheoughttohavedoneso——agoodideainitsway，butnotimmediatelyhelpful。HeturneduponEdnasharply。"Getalotofwetsand，"hesaid。Thenhewheeledthemachinealittletowardsthesideoftheroadway，andlaiditdownandlookedaboutforasupplyofwetsand。Theflamesreceivedthisasahelpfulattention，andmadethemostofit。Theyseemedtobrightenandthetwilighttodeepenaboutthem。Theroadwasaflintyroadinthechalkcountry，andill—providedwithsand。
　　Ednaaccostedashort，fatcyclist。"Wewantwetsand，"shesaid，andadded，"ourmotor’sonfire。"Theshort，fatcycliststaredblanklyforamoment，thenwithahelpfulcrybegantoscrabbleintheroad—grit。WhereuponBertandEdnaalsoscrabbledintheroad—grit。Othercyclistsarrived，dismountedandstoodabout，andtheirflame—litfacesexpressedsatisfaction，interest，curiositv。"Wetsand，"saidtheshort，fatman，scrabblingterribly——"wetstnd。"Onejoinedhim。Theythrewhard—earnedhandfulsofroad—gritupontheflames，whichacceptedthemwithenthusiasm。
　　Grubbarrived，ridinghard。Hewasshoutingsomething。Hesprangoffandthrewhisbicycleintothehedge。"Don’tthrowwateronit！"hesaid——"don’tthrowwateronit！"Hedisplayedcommandingpresenceofmind。Hebecamecaptainoftheoccasion。
　　Othersweregladtorepeatthethingshesaidandimitatehisactions。
　　"Don’tthrowwateronit！"theycried。Alsotherewasnowater。
　　"Beatitout，youfools！"hesaid。
　　Heseizedarugfromthetrailer（itwasanAustrianblanket，andBert’swintercoverlet）andbegantobeatattheburningpetrol。
　　Forawonderfulminuteheseemedtosucceed。Buthescatteredburningpoolsofpetrolontheroad，andothers，firedbyhisenthusiasm，imitatedhisaction。Bertcaughtupatrailer—cushionandbegantobeat;therewasanothercushionandatable—cloth，andthesealsowereseized。Ayoungheropulledoffhisjacketandjoinedthebeating。Foramomenttherewaslesstalkingthanhardbreathing，andatremendousflapping。Flossie，arrivingontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，cried，"Oh，myGod！"andburstloudlyintotears。"Help！"shesaid，and"Fire！"
　　Thelamemotor—cararrived，andstoppedinconsternation。A
　　tall，goggled，grey—hairedmanwhowasdrivinginquiredwithanOxfordintonationandaclear，carefulenunciation，"CanWEhelpatall？"
　　Itbecamemanifestthattherug，thetable—cloth，thecushions，thejacket，weregettingsmearedwithpetrolandburning。ThesoulseemedtogooutofthecushionBertwasswaying，andtheairwasfulloffeathers，likeasnowstorminthestilltwilight。
　　Berthadgotverydustyandsweatyandstrenuous。Itseemedtohimhisweaponhadbeenwrestedfromhimatthemomentofvictory。Thefirelaylikeadyingthing，closetothegroundandwicked;itgavealeapofanguishateverywhackofthebeaters。ButnowGrubbhadgoneofftostainpouttheburningblanket;theotherswerelackingjustatthemomentofvictory。
　　Onehaddroppedthecushionandwasrunningtothemotorcar。
　　"’ERE！"criedBert;"keepon！"
　　Heflungthedeflatedburningragsofcushionaside，whippedoffhisjacketandsprangattheflameswithashout。Hestampedintotheruinuntilflamesranuphisboots。Ednasawhim，ared—lithero，andthoughtitwasgoodtobeaman。
　　Abystanderwashitbyahothalfpennyflyingoutoftheair。
　　ThenBertthoughtofthepapersinhispockets，andstaggeredback，tryingtoextinguishhisburningjacket——checked，repulsed，dismayed。
　　EdnawasstruckbythebenevolentappearanceofanelderlyspectatorinasilkhatandSabbaticalgarments。"Oh！"shecriedtohim。"Helpthisyoungman！Howcanyoustandandseeit？"
　　Acryof"Thetarpaulin！"arose。
　　Anearnest—lookingmaninaverylightgreycycling—suithadsuddenlyappearedatthesideofthelamemotor—carandaddressedtheowner。"Haveyouatarpaulin？"hesaid。
　　"Yes，"saidthegentlemanlyman。"Yes。We’vegotatarpaulin。"
　　"That’sit，"saidtheearnest—lookingman，suddenlyshouting。
　　"Let’shaveit，quick！"
　　Thegentlemanlyman，withfeebleanddeprecatorygestures，andinthemannerofahypnotisedperson，producedanexcellentlargetarpaulin。
　　"Here！"criedtheearnest—lookingmantoGrubb。"Ketchholt！"
　　Theneverybodyrealisedthatanewmethodwastobetried。A
　　numberofwillinghandsseizedupontheOxfordgentleman’starpaulin。Theothersstoodawaywithapprovingnoises。Thetarpaulinwasheldovertheburningbicyclelikeacanopy，andthensmothereddownuponit。
　　"Weoughttohavedonethisbefore，"pantedGrubb。
　　Therewasamomentoftriumph。Theflamesvanished。Everyonewhocouldcontrivetodosotouchedtheedgeofthetarpaulin。
　　Berthelddownacornerwithtwohandsandafoot。Thetarpaulin，bulgedupinthecentre，seemedtobesuppressingtriumphantexultation。Thenitsself—approvalbecametoomuchforit;itburstintoabrightredsmileinthecentre。Itwasexactlyliketheopeningofamouth。Itlaughedwithagustofflames。Theywerereflectedredlyintheobservantgogglesofthegentlemanwhoownedthetarpaulin。Everybodyrecoiled。
　　"Savethetrailer！"criedsomeone，andthatwasthelastroundinthebattle。Butthetrailercouldnotbedetached;itswicker—workhadcaught，anditwasthelastthingtoburn。A
　　sortofhushfelluponthegathering。Thepetrolburntlow，thewicker—worktrailerbangedandcrackled。Thecrowddivideditselfintoanoutercircleofcritics，advisers，andsecondarycharacters，whohadplayedundistinguishedpartsornopartsatallintheaffair，andacentralgroupofheatedanddistressedprincipals。Ayoungmanwithaninquiringmindandaconsiderableknowledgeofmotor—bicyclesfixedontoGrubbandwantedtoarguethatthethingcouldnothavehappened。Grubbwassshortandinattentivewithhim，andtheyoungmanwithdrewtothebackofthecrowd，andtheretoldthebenevolentoldgentlemaninthesilkhatthatpeoplewhowentoutwithmachinestheydidn’tunderstandhadonlythemselvestoblameifthingswentwrong。
　　Theoldgentlemanlethimtalkforsometime，andthenremarked，inatoneofrapturousenjoyment:"Stonedeaf，"andadded，"Nastythings。"
　　Arosy—facedmaninastrawhatclaimedattention。"IDIDsavethefrontwheel，"hesaid;"you’dhavehadthattyrecatch，too，ifIhadn’tkeptturningitround。"Itbecamemanifestthatthiswasso。Thefrontwheelhadretaineditstyre，wasintact，wasstillrotatingslowlyamongtheblackenedandtwistedruinsoftherestofthemachine。Ithadsomethingofthatairofconsciousvirtue，ofunimpeachablerespectability，thatdistinguishesarentcollectorinalowneighbourhood。"Thatwheel’sworthapound，"saidtherosy—facedman，makingasongofit。"Ikep’turningitround。"
　　Newcomerskeptarrivingfromthesouthwiththequestion，"What’sup？"untilitgotonGrubb’snerves。Londonwardthecrowdwasconstantlylosingpeople;theywouldmounttheirvariouswheelswiththesatisfiedmannerofspectatorswhohavehadthebest。
　　Theirvoiceswouldrecedeintothetwilight;onewouldhearalaughatthememoryofthisparticularlysalientincidentorthat。
　　"I’mafraid，"saidthegentlemanofthemotor—car，"mytarpaulin’sabitdonefor。"
　　Grubbadmittedthattheownerwasthebestjudgeofthat。
　　"Nothin，elseIcandoforyou？"saidthegentlemanofthemotor—car，itmaybewithasuspicionofirony。
　　Bertwasrousedtoaction。"Lookhere，"hesaid。"There’smyyounglady。Ifsheain’t’omebytentheylockherout。See？
　　Well，allmymoneywasinmyjacketpocket，andit’sallmixedupwiththeburntstuff，andthat’stoo’ottotouch。ISClaphamoutofyourway？"
　　"Allintheday’swork，"saidthegentlemanwiththemotor—car，andturnedtoEdna。"Verypleasedindeed，"hesaid，"ifyou’llcomewithus。We’relatefordinnerasitis，soitwon’tmakemuchdifferenceforustogohomebywayofClapham。We’vegottogettoSurbiton，anyhow。I’mafraidyou"llfindusalittleslow。"
　　"Butwhat’sBertgoingtodo？"saidEdna。
　　"Idon’tknowthatwecanaccommodateBert，"saidthemotor—cargentleman，"thoughwe’retremendouslyanxioustooblige。"
　　"Youcouldn’ttakethewholelot？"saidBert，wavinghishandatthedeboshedandblackenedruinsontheground。
　　"I’mawfullyafraidIcan’t，"saidtheOxfordman。"Awfullysorry，youknow。"
　　"ThenI’llhavetostick’ereforabit，"saidBert。"Igottoseethethingthrough。Yougoon，Edna。"
　　"Don’tlikeleavin’you，Bert。"
　　"Youcan’t’elpit，Edna。"……
　　ThelastEdnasawofBertwashisfigure，incharredandblackenedshirtsleeves，standinginthedusk。Hewasmusingdeeplybythemixedironworkandashesofhisvanishedmotor—bicycle，amelancholyfigure。Hisretinueofspectatorshadshrunknowtohalfadozenfigures。FlossieandGrubbwerepreparingtofollowherdesertion。
　　"Cheerup，oldBert！"criedEdna，withartificialcheerfulness。
　　"Solong。"
　　"Solong，Edna，"saidBert。
　　"’Seeyouto—morrer。"
　　"Seeyouto—morrer，"saidBert，thoughhewasdestined，asamatteroffact，toseemuchofthehabitableglobebeforehesawheragain。
　　Bertbegantolightmatchesfromaborrowedboxful，andsearchforahalf—crownthatstilleludedhimamongthecharredremains。
　　Hisfacewasgraveandmelancholy。
　　"IWISHthat’adn’t’appened，"saidFlossie，ridingonwithGrubb……
　　AndatlastBertwasleftalmostalone，asad，blackenedPrometheanfigure，cursedbythegiftoffire。Hehadentertainedvagueideasofhiringacart，ofachievingmiraculousrepairs，ofstillsnatchingsomeresidualvaluefromhisonechiefpossession。Now，inthedarkeningnight，heperceivedthevanityofsuchintentions。Truthcametohimbleakly，andlaidherchillconvictionuponhim。Hetookholdofthehandle—bar，stoodthethingup，triedtopushitforward。Thetyrelesshind—wheelwasjammedhopelessly，evenashefeared。Foraminuteorsohestoodupholdinghismachine，amotionlessdespair。Thenwithagreatefforthethrusttheruinsfromhimintotheditch，kickedatitonce，regarded`itforamoment，andturnedhisfaceresolutelyLondonward。
　　Hedidnotoncelookback。
　　"That’stheendofTHATgame！"saidBert。"Nomoreteuf—teuf—teufforBertSmallwavsforayearortwo。Good—bye’Olidays！……Oh！Ioughtto’avesoldtheblastedthingwhenI
　　hadachancethreeyearsago。"
　　3
　　ThenextmorningfoundthefirmofGrubb&Smallwaysinastateofprofounddespondency。tseemedasmallmattertothemthatthenewspaperandcigaretteshopoppositedisplayedsuchplacardsasthis:——
　　REPORTEDAMERICANULTIMATUM。
　　BRITAINMUSTFIGHT。
　　OURINFATUATEDWAROFFICESTILL
　　REFUSESTOLISTENTOMR。BUTTERIDGE。
　　GREATMONO—RAILDISASTERATTIMBUCTOO。
　　orthis:——
　　WARAQUESTIONOFHOURS。
　　NEWYORKCALM。
　　EXCITEMENTINBERLIN。
　　oragain:——
　　WASHINGTONSTILLSILENT。
　　WHATWILLPARISD0？
　　THEPANICONTHEBOURSE。
　　THEKING’SGARDENPARTYTOTHE
　　MASKEDTWAREGS。
　　MR。BUTTERIDGETAKESANOFFER。
　　LATESTBETTINGFROMTEHERAN。
　　orthis:——
　　WILLAMERICAFIGHT？
　　ANTI—GERMANRIOTINBAGDAD。
　　THEMUNICIPALSCANDALSATDAMASCUS。
　　MR。BUTTERIDGE’SINVENTIONFORAMERICA。
　　Bertstaredattheseoverthecardofpump—clipsinthepaneinthedoorwithunseeingeyes。Heworeablackenedflannelshirt，andthejacketlessruinsoftheholidaysuitofyesterday。Theboarded—upshopwasdarkanddepressingbeyondwords，thefewscandaloushiringmachineshadneverlookedsohopelesslydisreputable。Hethoughtoftheirfellowswhowere"out，"andoftheapproachingdisputationsoftheafternoon。Hethoughtoftheirnewlandlord，andoftheiroldlandlord，andofbillsandclaims。Lifepresenteditselfforthefirsttimeasahopelessfightagainstfate……
　　"Grubb，o’man，"hesaid，distillingthequintessence，"I’mfairsickofthisshop。"
　　"So’mI，"saidGrubb。
　　"I’moutofconceitwithit。Idon’tseemtocareevertospeaktoacustomeragain。"
　　"There’sthattrailer，"saidGrubb，afterapause。
　　"Blowthetrailer！"saidBert。"Anyhow，Ididn’tleaveadepositonit。Ididn’tdothat。Still——"
　　Heturnedroundonhisfriend。"Look’ere，"hesaid，"wearen’tgettin’onhere。Webeenlosingmoneyhandoverfist。Wegotthingstiedupinfiftyknots。"
　　"Whatcanwedo？"saidGrubb。
　　"Clearout。Sellwhatwecanforwhatitwillfetch，andquit。
　　See？It’snogood’angingontoalosingconcern。Nosortofgood。Jestfoolishness。"
　　"That’sallright，"saidGrubb——"that’sallright;butitain’tyourcapitalbeensunkinit。"
　　"Noneedforustosinkafterourcapital，"saidBert，ignoringthepoint。
　　"I’mnotgoingtobeheldresponsibleforthattrailer，anyhow。
　　Thatain’tmyaffair。"
　　"Nobodyarstyoutomakeityouraffair。Ifyouliketostickonhere，wellandgood。I’mquitting。I’llseeBankHolidaythrough，andthenI’mO—R—P—H。See？"
　　"Leavin’me？"
　　"Leavin’you。Ifyoumustbeleft。"
　　Grubblookedroundtheshop。Itcertainlyhadbecomedistasteful。Onceuponatimeithadbeenbrightwithhopeandnewbeginningsandstockandtheprospectofcredit。Now——nowitwasfailureanddust。Verylikelythelandlordwouldberoundpresentlytogoonwiththerowaboutthewindow……"Whered’youthinkofgoing，Bert？"Grubbasked。
　　Bertturnedroundandregardedhim。"IthoughtitoutasIwaswalking’ome，andinbed。Icouldn’tsleepawink。"
　　"Whatdidyouthinkout？"
　　"Plans。"
　　"Whatplans？"
　　"Oh！You’reforstickin，here。"
　　"Notifanythingbetterwastooffer。"
　　"It’sonlyanideer，"saidBert"Youmadethegirlslaughyestiday，thatsongyousang。"
　　"Seemsalongtimeagonow，"saidGrubb。
　　"AndoldEdnanearlycried——overthatbitofmine。"
　　"Shegotaflyinhereye，"saidGrubb;"Isawit。Butwhat’sthisgottodowithyourplan？"
　　"Noend，"saidBert。
　　"’Ow？"
　　"Don’tyousee？"
　　"Notsinginginthestreets？"
　　"Streets！Nofear！But’owabouttheTouroftheWaterin’
　　PlacesofEngland，Grubb？Singing！Youngmenoffamilydoingitforalark？Youain’tgotabadvoice，youknow，andmine’sallright。IneverseeachapsingingonthebeachyetthatI
　　couldn’t’avesungintoacockedhat。Andwebothknowhowtoputonthetoffabit。Eh？Well，that’smyideer。Meandyou，Grubb，witharefinedsongandabreakdown。Likewewasdoingforfooleryyestiday。Thatwaswhatputitintomy’ead。Easymakeupaprogramme——easy。Sixchoiceitems，andoneortwoforencoresandpatter。I’mallrightforthepatteranyhow。"
　　Grubbremainedregardinghisdarkenedanddishearteningshop;hethoughtofhisformerlandlordandhispresentlandlord，andofthegeneraldisgustingnessofbusinessinanagewhichre—echoestoTheBitterCryoftheMiddleClass;andthenitseemedtohimthatafaroffheheardthetwankle，twankleofabanjo，andthevoiceofastrandedsirensinging。Hehadasenseofhotsunshineuponsand，ofthechildrenofitleasttransientlyopulentholidaymakersinacircleroundabouthim，ofthewhisper，"Theyarereallygentlemen，"andthendollop，dollopcamethecoppersinthehat。Sometimesevensilver。Itwasallincome;nooutgoings，nobills。"I’mon，Bert，"hesaid。
　　"Right0！"saidBert，and，"Nowweshan’tbelong。"
　　"Weneedn’tstartwithoutcapitalneither，"saidGrubb。"IfwetakethebestofthesemachinesuptotheBicycleMartinFinsburywe’draisesixorsevenpoundson’em。Wecouldeasydothattomorrowbeforeanybodymuchwasabout……"
　　"NicetothinkofoldSuet—and—Bonescomingroundtomakehisusualrowwithus，andfindingacardup’ClosedforRepairs。’"
　　"We’lldothat，"saidGrubbwithzest——"we’lldothat。Andwe’llputupanothernotice，andjestarstallinquirerstogoroundto’imandinquire。See？Thenthey’llknowallaboutus。"
　　Beforethedaywasoutthewholeenterprisewasplanned。TheydecidedatfirstthattheywouldcallthemselvestheNavalMr。
　　O’s，aplagiarism，andnotperhapsaverygoodone，fromthetitleofthewell—knowntroupeof"ScarletMr。E’s，"andBertratherclungtotheideaofauniformofbrightblueserge，withalotofgoldlaceandcordandornamentation，ratherlikeanavalofficer’s，butmoreso。Butthathadtobeabandonedasimpracticable，itwouldhavetakentoomuchtimeandmoneytoprepare。Theyperceivedtheymustwearsomecheaperandmorereadilypreparedcostume，andGrubbfellbackonwhitedominoes。
　　Theyentertainedthenotionforatimeofselectingthetwoworstmachinesfromthehiring—stock，paintingthemoverwithcrimsonenamelpaint，replacingthebellsbytheloudestsortofmotor—horn，anddoingarideabouttobeginandendtheentertainment。Theydoubtedtheadvisabilityofthisstep。
　　"There’speopleintheworld，"saidBert，"whowouldn’trecogniseus，who’dknowthembicyclesagainlikeashot，andwedon’twanttogoonwithnooldstories。Wewantafreshstart。"
　　"Ido，"saidGrubb，"badly。"
　　"Wewanttoforgetthings——andcutalltheserottenoldworries。
　　Theyain’tdoin’usgood。"
　　Nevertheless，theydecidedtotaketheriskofthesebicycles，andtheydecidedtheircostumesshouldbebrownstockingsandsandals，andcheapunbleachedsheetswithaholecutinthemiddle，andwigsandbeardsoftow。Theresttheirnormalselves！"TheDesertDervishes，"theywouldcallthemselves，andtheirchiefsongswouldbethosepopularditties，"InmyTrailer，"and"WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"
　　Theydecidedtobeginwithsmallseasideplaces，andgradually，astheygainedconfidence，attacklargercentres。TobeginwiththeyselectedLittlestoneinKent，chieflybecauseofitsunassumingname。