As he walked slowly up the street he became aware of a commotion at the
corner of George Street. He saw that a crowd had gathered, and quickened
his pace, for a crowd in Cardigan Street generally meant a fight. Jonah
elbowed his way through the ring, and found a young policeman, new to this
beat, struggling with an undersized man with the face of a ferret.
Jonah's first thought was to effect a rescue, as his practised eye took in
the details of the scene. Let them get away from the light of the street
lamp, and with a sudden rush the thing would be done. He looked round for
the Push and remembered that they were scattered. Then he saw that the
captive was a stranger, and decided to look on quietly and note the
policeman's methods for future use.

On finding that he was overmatched in strength, the prisoner had dropped
to the ground, and, with silent, cat-like movements baulked the
policeman's efforts. As Jonah looked on, the constable straightened his
back, wiped the sweat from his face, and then, suddenly desperate, called
on the nearest to help him. The men slipped behind the women, who laughed
in his face. It was his first arrest, and he looked in astonishment at
the grinning, hostile faces, too nervous to use his strength, harassed by
the hatred of the people.

"Take 'im yerself; do yer own dirty work."

"Wot's the poor bloke done?"

"Nuthin', yer may be sure."

"These Johns run a man in, an' swear his life away ter git a stripe
on their sleeve."