teeth. He was not saying much, but his manner was full of deadly
wrath. They paid no attention to the roller, and were about to
pass it without even looking up, when Gissing, in a sudden fit of
indignation, gave the wheel a quick twirl and turned his clumsy
engine upon them. They escaped only by a hair's breadth from
being flattened out like pastry. Then the Bishop, looking up,
recognized the renegade. With a cry of anger they all leaped at
the roller.

But he was so high above them, they had no chance. He seized the
coal-scoop and whanged Mr. Poodle across the skull. The Bishop
came dangerously near reaching him, but Gissing released a jet of
scalding steam from an exhaust-cock, which gave the impetuous
prelate much cause for grief. A lump of coal, accurately thrown,
discouraged Mr. Airedale. Mr. Towser, attacking on the other side
of the engine, managed to scramble up so high that he carried
away the embroidered stole, but otherwise the fugitive had all
the best of it. Mr. Dobermann-Pinscher burned his feet trying to
climb up the side of the boiler. From the summit of his uncouth
vehicle Gissing looked down undismayed.

"Miserable freethinker!" said Borzoi. "You shall be tried by the
assembly of bishops."

"In a mere lay reader," quoted Gissing, "a slight laxity is
allowable. You had better go back and calm down the congregation,
or they'll tear the chapel to bits. This kind of thing will have
a very bad influence on church discipline."

They shouted additional menace, but Gissing had already started