And this, after all, was only a proper precaution. The New River and Kent Companies had a face supply of 50,000,000 gallons per diem, but this was an absolute maximum and far over the average demand.
Moreover, the drought had been a long one, and the reserve reservoirs had been freely called upon. In a day or two the allowance would have to be halved3.
Again in the hospitals and sick households water for domestic purposes was absolutely necessary. Meanwhile scores of the main line trains had been knocked off to make way for trains of tanks bringing water from the country. The Spring Gardens officials were working with superhuman efforts.
All night long a stream of people were coming and going between Trafalgar Square and such other open supplies as were available. Morning came at length, with the promise of another sweltering day. A few people turned vaguely4 to Parliament to do something. Two days before the House of Commons had looked forward to prorogation5 on Saturday, but there was no talk of that any longer.
The streets began to be busy again. There were smartly-dressed men here and there with grimy chins and features frankly6 dirty. It seemed strange to see individuals with good coats and spotless linen7 grimed and lined with the dust of yesterday. A steady breeze was blowing so that in a little time the dust in the streets became intolerable. The air was full of a fine dry powder that penetrated8 lungs and throat, and produced a painful thirst. It was impossible to water the roads, so that the evil had to be endured.
There was one question on every lip, and that was whether there had been any further spread of the plague. The authorities were exceedingly happy to announce that no further cases had been reported. There was comfort in the knowledge, and London breathed a little easier. Evidently the prompt measures taken had averted all danger of a disastrous9 epidemic10. Gradually it became known who the sufferers were. It was an awful price that London had to pay for the casting away of the Santa Anna.
But that was only the spark to the powder, after all. Extraordinary apathy11 and criminal carelessness were the causes of the disaster. The knowledge a century hence that London derived12 its water supply from an open river into which many towns conveyed its sewage will be recorded with pitiful amazement13. For the present we have the plain unmitigated fact.
The yellow press made the most of it. The Red Banner pointed14 to corruption15 and apathy on the part of the ruling powers; the Red Banner also asked if it were not a fact that our bloated legislators had a private water supply of their own, and that, whilst the common people were allowanced, our law makers16 were sipping17 their coffee and tea and whiskey and water as usual?
It was the usual coarse gibe18 to be expected from a paper of that type, an arrow at venture. But for once the thing was true, seeing that the House of Commons has a private supply of water drawn19 from a well of its own. As a rule, the Banner carried very little weight, but the question got into the people's mouths and became a catchword. A man had only to pass a standpipe without a struggle in its direction, to be dubbed20 a member of the House of Commons, i.e., the public want did not touch him at all.
The blazing, panting day wore on. People were beginning faintly to understand what a water famine might mean. Everybody was grimy and tired; in the East and West alike dingy21 features could be seen. As night fell small riots broke out here and there, people were robbed of their precious fluid as they carried it along the streets. It had leaked out that sundry22 shops in different parts of London had wells, and these establishments were stormed and looted of their contents by thieves who took advantage of the confusion. It was only by dint23 of the most strenuous24 exertion25 that the police managed to keep the upper hand.
Another day or two of this and what would become of London? At nightfall it became absolutely necessary to release some millions of gallons of the condemned26 water for the flushing of the sewers27. There was danger here, but, on the whole, the danger was less than a wide epidemic of diphtheria and fever. And there were people thirsty and reckless enough to drink this water heedless of the consequences. With characteristic imprudence, the East End had exhausted28 its dole29 early in the day, and wild-eyed men raved30 through the streets yelling for more.
From time to time the police raided and broke up these dangerous commandoes. A well-known democratic agitator31 came with a following over Westminster Bridge and violently harangued32 a knot of his followers33 in Palace Yard. The police were caught napping for the moment. The burly red-faced demagogue looked round the swelling34 sea of sullen35 features and pointed to the light in the clock tower. He started spouting36 the froth of his tribe.
It was all the fault of the governing body, of course. They managed things much better on the Continent.
"If you were men," he yelled, "you'd drag them out of yonder. You'd make them come and work like the rest of us. What said the Banner to-day? Your bloated rulers are all right; they don't want for anything. At the present moment they have plenty of the water that you'd sell your souls for."
"If you'll lead the way, we'll follow," said a voice hoarsely37.
The orator38 glanced furtively39 around. There was not a single police helmet to be seen, nothing but five or six hundred desperate men ready for anything.
"Then come along," he yelled. "We'll make history to-night."
He strode towards the House followed by a yelling mob. The few police inside were tossed here and there like dry leaves in a flood; the quiet decorum of the lobby was broken up, a white-faced member fled into the chamber40 and declared that London was in riot and that a mob of desperadoes were here bent41 on wrecking43 the mother of parliaments.
An interminable debate on some utterly44 useless question was in progress, the Speaker nodded wearily under the weight of his robes and wig45, the green benches were dotted with members all utterly overcome with the stifling46 heat. There was to be a big division about midnight, so that the smoking-room and bars and terraces were full of members.
The mob filled the chamber, yelling and shouting. It was in vain that the Speaker tried to make his voice heard above the din2.
The Speaker looked up sharply. A stinging reproof47 was on the tip of his tongue. He had scarcely uttered a word, before, as if by magic, the green benches were swarming48 with the mob. It filled the chamber, yelling and shouting. It was in vain that the Speaker tried to make his voice heard above the din.
A glass of water and a bottle stood on the table before him. One of the intruders more audacious than the rest snatched up the glass and emptied it. A mighty49 roar of applause followed the audacious act. As yet the mob was fairly good-humoured, though there was no knowing what their mood would be presently.
"It's that confounded Banner," one member of the government groaned50 to another. "They have come after our private supply. Can't one of you get to the telephone and call up Scotland Yard?"
Meanwhile the mob were inclined to be sportive. They surged forward to the table driving the Speaker back behind the chair, they overturned the table and scattered51 books and papers in all directions. The foreign element in the company started singing the Marseillaise in strident tones. The martial52 spirit of it fired the blood of the others.
"We are wasting time here," someone cried. "There are bars and dining-rooms. As we came in I heard the rattle53 of glasses. This way."
The crowd reeled back as if one motion controlled them all. There was still the same note of laughter in the roar and all might have been well yet, but for the advent54 of a small, but determined55 body of police. They charged fiercely into the mob, and in the twinkling of an eye farces56 gave way to tragedy.
In less time than it takes to tell the police were beaten back with one or two of their number badly hurt, whilst the forefront of the visitors had not come off any better. The popular chamber had become a wreck42; outside in the lobby broken furniture was scattered about everywhere.
Then the tide of humanity surged into the bars and dining-rooms. A few frightened attendants and waiters still stuck to their posts. The sight of the glasses and bottles of water about seemed to madden the mob. They demanded that all the taps should be turned on, the fittings were wrenched57 away amidst a perfect tornado58 of applause, soon the floors were swimming with the element that all London was clamouring for outside.
The rooms were strewn with broken glass and china, the floors were damp and soppy with the wasted water. Here and there men were feasting on looted food. Never had anything like this been seen in any parliament before. A few courageous59 members vainly trying to stop the din wondered where were the police.
But they were coming. They did come presently, two hundred of them, steady, stern, and disciplined, and before them the rioters fled like chaff60 before the wind. Five more minutes and the House was cleared. But the damage was great.
Outside a dense61 mass of people had gathered, attracted by the news of the riot. They were in no mood to take the side of law and order and it was with great difficulty that the ring-leaders of the late affray were got away safely. A thin high voice a long way off in the back of the crowd was shouting something which seemed to at once arrest attention. A sullen murmur62 came up to Palace Yard. The loose jeers63 of the mob ceased as if by magic.
"What are they saying?" an Irish member asked.
"I can't quite catch it," another member said, "but it's something about water in Trafalgar Square. I shouldn't wonder if——"
Just for an instant the roar broke out again. There was a note of fear in it this time. The babel of voices yelled one against the other. Gradually it was possible to make something out of it.
"By Jove, it's as I feared," the Irish member said. "The spring under the Trafalgar Square fountain has given out. It's a public calamity64. See, they are all off. No more row to-night."
The great crowd was melting away with marvellous rapidity. Each man there wanted to verify this new disaster for himself. The mob streamed along towards the Square as if life and death hung in the balance. If fortune had lain there they could not have fought or struggled harder. In the heat and the strife65 many fell by the way, but they lay there unheeded.
The cool fountain no longer played. People who had come from afar with vessels66 for the precious fluid cast them on the ground passionately67 and cursed aloud. The disaster was so great, it appeared so overwhelming that the cruel mood of the mob was held in check for the time. Taking advantage, the police shepherded the mob here and there until comparative quiet was restored. Dr. Longdale, on his way home, paused to contemplate68 the scene.
"'Blucher or night,'" he murmured, "Darbyshire or morning, rather. I'd give my practice to have a few words with Darbyshire now. I'll just call at the Charing69 Cross Hospital and see how he is."
It was comparatively quiet in the Strand70 by this time. Four or five stalwart constables71 stood on the steps of the hospital as a safeguard, for there was no lack of water there. A house-surgeon came hurrying out.
"I am very glad to see you," he said. "I was just going to send for you. Dr. Darby——"
"Good heaven, you don't mean to say he is worse!"
"On the contrary, much better; quite sensible, in fact; and he declines to think about sleep until he has seen you."
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1
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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halved
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| v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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prorogation
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| n.休会，闭会 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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8
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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9
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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gibe
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| n.讥笑；嘲弄 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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21
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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24
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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26
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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27
sewers
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| n.阴沟，污水管，下水道( sewer的名词复数 ) | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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dole
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| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
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30
raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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31
agitator
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| n.鼓动者；搅拌器 | |
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32
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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wrecking
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| 破坏 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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48
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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49
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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50
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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51
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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52
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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53
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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54
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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55
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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56
farces
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| n.笑剧( farce的名词复数 )；闹剧；笑剧剧目；作假的可笑场面 | |
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57
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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58
tornado
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| n.飓风，龙卷风 | |
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59
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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60
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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61
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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62
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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63
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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65
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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66
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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67
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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68
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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69
charing
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| n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣 | |
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70
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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71
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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