 office was to lead the blind.
    The night was come, the gang had just finished feasting, an orgie was
beginning; the can of liquor was passing from mouth to mouth. A general cry
broke forth -
    »A song! a song from the Bat and Dick Dot-and-go-One!«
    One of the blind men got up, and made ready by casting aside the patches
that sheltered his excellent eyes, and the pathetic placard which recited the
cause of his calamity. Dot-and-go-One disencumbered himself of his timber leg
and took his place, upon sound and healthy limbs, beside his fellow-rascal; then
they roared out a rollicking ditty, and were re-inforced by the whole crew, at
the end of each stanza, in a rousing chorus. By the time the last stanza was
reached, the half-drunken enthusiasm had risen to such a pitch, that everybody
joined in and sang it clear through from the beginning, producing a volume of
villainous sound that made the rafters quake. These were the inspiring words:
 
»Bien Darkmans then, Bouse Mort and Ken,
The bien Coves bings awast,
On Chates to trine by Rome Coves dine,
For his long lib at last.
Bing'd out bien Morts and toure, and toure,
Bing out of the Rome vile bine,
And toure the Cove that cloy'd your duds,
Upon the Chates to trine.«15
 
Conversation followed; not in the thieves' dialect of the song, for that was
only used, in talk, when unfriendly ears might be listening. In the course of it
it appeared that John Hobbs was not altogether a new recruit, but had trained in
the gang at some former time. His later history was called for, and when he said
he had accidentally killed a man, considerable satisfaction was expressed; when
he added that the man was a priest, he was roundly applauded, and had to take a
drink with everybody. Old acquaintances welcomed him joyously, and new ones were
proud to shake him by the hand. He was asked why he had »tarried away so many
months.« He answered -
    »London is better than the country, and safer, these late years, the laws be
so bitter and so diligently enforced. An' I had not had that accident, I had
staid there. I had resolved to stay, and never more venture countrywards - but
the accident has ended that.«
    He inquired how many persons the gang numbered now. The Ruffler, or chief,
answered -
    »Five and twenty sturdy budges
