"Now, look here," said the Pilgrim, "me and my mate wanter catch the train."

"Hush-sh-sh!" from the publican in a fierce whisper.

"Well, boss," said the joker, "can you let us have beds, then?
I don't want to freeze here all night, anyway."

"Yes," said the landlord, "I can do that, but some of you
will have to sleep double and some of you'll have to take it out of the sofas,
and one or two 'll have to make a shakedown on the floor.
There's plenty of bags in the stable, and you've got rugs and coats with you.
Fix it up amongst yourselves."

"But look here!" interrupted the Pilgrim, desperately,
"we can't afford to wait! We're only `battlers', me and my mate,
pickin' up crumbs by the wayside. We've got to catch the ----"

"Hush!" said the publican, savagely. "You fool, didn't I tell you
my missus was bad? I won't have any noise."

"But look here," protested the Pilgrim, "we must catch the train
at Dead Camel ----"

"You'll catch my boot presently," said the publican, with a savage oath,
"and go further than Dead Camel. I won't have my missus disturbed
for you or any other man! Just you shut up or get out,
and take your blooming mate with you."

We lost patience with the Pilgrim and sternly took him aside.