Part 6 (1/2)
Fred and Bristles had their hands full from the very start. It was their object to do all the damage they could without allowing any of the dogs a chance to sink their teeth into their legs, or leap upon their backs, as they appeared desirous of doing.
Luckily both boys were st.u.r.dy and agile. More than this, they realized the desperate nature of their position, for no help could reach them there. If they hoped to come out of the fight with credit, they must depend wholly upon their own valor and ability.
Bristles whacked the dun-colored beast soundly, as he made a ferocious leap up toward his throat, and had the satisfaction of seeing him whirl headlong. It was only a temporary backset, however, for as soon as the animal recovered his feet he made another mad rush, so that the boy was kept busy prodding him, using his club right and left as an Irishman might his s.h.i.+llalah, and in every way possible trying to beat the brute off.
All the while Bristles kept up a shouting that was intended to nerve his own arm, and possibly help to strike terror into the hearts of the four-footed a.s.sailants.
”You will, eh? Take that for a starter, and plenty more where that came from! Try to catch me off my guard, will you? Whoop! that was a beauty of a crack! Hope I made you see stars that time, you snarling beast, you! Get back there! s.h.i.+nny on your own side, can't you?” and he gave a sudden kick at one of the smaller dogs, that, taking advantage of the row, had tried to creep in and nip him on the leg.
While all this was going on, Fred had his hands full with the other two dogs. If they lacked some of the ferocity and daring of the leader of the pack, it was made up in the fact of their being a pair to watch, and keep from closing in with him.
Fast his club flew, and hearty were the whacks he gave right and left.
One after the other he had sent his a.s.sailants headlong, thanks to lucky shots. When they returned to the sc.r.a.p, they began to give evidence that this sort of thing had begun to pall upon their liking, and this encouraged the boy to work harder than ever.
Just then, imagine the delight of the two hard pressed boys when they heard a cheery shout close by, and saw a lithe figure, also in running trunks, come leaping toward the spot.
No need for them to ask themselves who this could be, for well did they know the most remarkable method of getting over the ground peculiar to Colon, and which some people likened to the singular hopping of a kangaroo.
He already had a club in his hand, and he immediately started in to wield it with telling effect on one of Fred's a.s.sailants. The consequence was that this particular dog turned tail, and ran off at top speed. Its mate, as though realizing the folly of keeping up an unequal combat, hastened to do the same.
This left the savage leader of the pack alone to face three antagonists.
Fred could not help but feel something akin to admiration for the defiant beast as he attacked first one and then another of them. Evidently the idea of running, and saving his hide, had not as yet appealed to the enraged dog.
”Keep knocking him, everybody!” shrieked Bristles, now more than ever determined on finis.h.i.+ng the terror of the neighboring farmers. ”We've just got to nail him, boys. Don't let him shoot past you! Pound him on the head! Knock him galleywest! That was a socker, Fred; you've got him down, I tell you! Now, everyone pile in and we'll end his sheep-killing career for him!”
There was a concerted rush from three sides. The half dazed beast could not recover in time to leap upon anyone of his foes, though he snapped his jaws together so that his terrible teeth met with a clicking sound.
For a short time the clubs rained blows on his head, until Fred finally called out:
”That's enough, fellows; he's thrown up the sponge!”
”Hurrah for us; we've cleaned the ugly pack out, boys!” cried Bristles, thought so short of breath after his exertions that he could hardly stand erect.
Yes, the sheep-killing dog had been slain, and while Fred was of course very well pleased over the outcome of the fight, at the same time he looked down with considerable respect upon the dun-colored beast that could exhibit such desperate courage, and put up such a game defense against three foes.
Bristles insisted upon shaking hands with each one of his mates, and then he and Fred turned upon the long-legged Colon with a look of wonder on their faces, as though they could not understand how it was he had shown up at such a lucky moment.
CHAPTER VII
THE SHORT-CUT WAY
”Now, where did you drop down from, Colon?” asked Bristles.
”Me?” exclaimed the tall chum, with a broad smile on his face. ”Why, straight from town, if you want to know. You see, I found out, after all, I could get off, and hurried to where you said you'd start, but Fred's ma told me you had half an hour the lead of me. Still, as I happened to know the layout of the trip, I made up my mind I'd follow along, and hump myself a little to overtake you fellows.
”But how'd you know where we left the road, and started across the woodland, tell me, Colon?” asked Bristles; whereupon the other nodded his head, and looked wise.
”Oh! well!” he explained, ”you see, Fred told me about where he expected to break away and so of course I kept looking; and I saw that you'd turned out just about under that bunch of birch trees. Why, you left a plain track in the dust on the road. After that I used my eyes and my head, and kept pus.h.i.+ng right along. I'm reckoned something of a scout in the woods, you must know.”