And so it did, and there was no one by to interfere.

No one but a woman in a ragged shawl who would have no influence with the driver.

There was a very good humane society in Fairport, and none of the teamsters dared ill-use their horses if any of the members were near.

This was a quiet out-of-the-way street, with only poor houses on it, and the man probably knew that none of the members of the society would be likely to be living in them.

He whipped his horse, and whipped him, till every lash made my heart ache, and if I had dared I would have bitten him severely.
Suddenly, there was a dull thud in the street.