Tom was not astonished . He was long past that . Besides , he had seen the naviculae in the water move nobody knows how , a hundred times , without arms , or legs , or anything to stand in their stead . Neither was he frightened for he had been doing no harm . So he stopped ; and , when the foremost truncheon came up and asked his business , he showed Mother Carey 's pass ; and the truncheon looked at it in the oddest fashion ; for he had one eye in the middle of his upper end , so that when he looked at anything , being quite stiff , he had to slope himself , and poke himself , till it was a wonder why he did not tumble over ; but , being quite full of the spirit of justice -LRB- as all policemen , and their truncheons , ought to be -RRB- , he was always in a position of stable equilibrium , whichever way he put himself . `` All right -- pass on , '' said he at last . And then he added : `` I had better go with you , young man . '' And Tom had no objection , for such company was both respectable and safe ; so the truncheon coiled its thong neatly round its handle , to prevent tripping itself up -- for the thong had got loose in running -- and marched on by Tom 's side . `` Why have you no policeman to carry you ? '' asked Tom , after a while . `` Because we are not like those clumsy-made truncheons in the land - world , which can not go without having a whole man to carry them about . We do our own work for ourselves ; and do it very well , though I say it who should not . '' `` Then why have you a thong to your handle ? '' asked Tom . `` To hang ourselves up by , of course , when we are off duty . '' Tom had got his answer , and had no more to say , till they came up to the great iron door of the prison . And there the truncheon knocked twice , with its own head . A wicket in the door opened , and out looked a tremendous old brass blunderbuss charged up to the muzzle with slugs , who was the porter ; and Tom started back a little at the sight of him . `` What case is this ? '' he asked in a deep voice , out of his broad bell mouth .
`` If you please , sir , it is no case ; only a young gentleman from her ladyship , who wants XXXXX see Grimes , the master-sweep . ''
Because Besides So after as for of over to without