the second one of us slipped or moved too slowly , the scarecrow would drive us into the ground like a fence post . it was different from considering murder in the abstract , reading those names . and with my luck , a big fat one would fall off and land on my head , a new friend dropping in to say hello . pete always sat forward when he had a good hand . `` soon the desk itself will catch fire . that wo n't stop me clapping him in chains if he shows his face near me or mine . 