THE MAN. Like as not. It takes the lynchpins out, I tell you.
THE GIRL. God 'elp us!
THE MAN (grimly). Ah! We said that a bit too often. What we want, we take, now; there's no one to give it us, and there's no fear'll stop us; we seen the bottom o' things.
THE GIRL. P'r'aps 'e'll say that too.
THE MAN. Then it'll be 'im or me.
THE GIRL. I'm frightened.
THE MAN (tenderly). No, Daise, no! (He takes out a knife.) The river's 'andy. One more or less. 'E shan't 'arm you; nor me neither.
THE GIRL (seizing his hand). Oh! no! Give it to me, Jim!
THE MAN (smiling). No fear! (He puts it away.) Shan't 'ave no need for it, like as not. All right, little Daise; you can't be expected to see things like what we do. What's a life, anyway? I've seen a thousand taken in five minutes. I've seen dead men on the wires like flies on a fly-paper; I've been as good as dead meself an 'undred times. I've killed a dozen men. It's nothin'. 'E's safe, if 'e don't get my blood up. If 'e does, nobody's safe; not 'im, nor anybody else; not even you. I'm speakin' sober.
THE GIRL (softly). Jim, you won't go fightin', wi' the sun out and the birds all callin'?