This was more easily said than done. But after Uncle Andrew had struggled in vain with the hat for some time， two other policemen seized it by the brim and forced it off.
“Thank you， thank you，” said Uncle Andrew in a faint voice. “Thank you. Dear me， I‘m terribly shaken. If someone could give me a small glass of brandy.”
“Now you attend to me， if you please，” said the policeman， taking out a very large note.and a very small pencil. “Are you in charge of that there young woman？”
“Look out！” called several voices， and the policeman jumped a step backwards just in time. The horse had aimed a kick at him which would probably have killed him. Then the Witch wheeled the horse round so that she faced the crowd and its hind.legs were on the footpath. She had a long， bright knife in her hand and had been busily cutting the horse free from the wreck of the hansom.