Part 48 (2/2)

Come on! Come along!”

Cameron stood irresolute. Then arose out of the black darkness a long quavering cat call. With a sudden dash Cameron sprang towards the fence.

Instantly there was a sound of running feet through the plowed field on the other side, then silence.

”Come back, you cowards!” raged Cameron. ”Isn't there a man among you?”

For answer a clod came hurtling through the dark and struck with a thud upon the fence. Immediately, as if at a signal, there fell about Cameron a perfect hail of clods and even stones.

”Oh! Oh!” shrieked Mandy, rus.h.i.+ng towards him and throwing herself between him and the falling missiles. ”Come away! Come away! They'll just kill you.”

For answer Cameron put his arms about her and drew her behind him, s.h.i.+elding her as best he could with his body.

”Do you want to kill a woman?” he called aloud.

At once the hail of clods ceased and, raging as he was, Mandy dragged him homeward. At the door of the house he made to turn back.

”Not much, you don't,” said Mandy, stoutly, ”or I go with you.”

”Oh, all right,” said Cameron, ”let them go. They are only a lot of curs, anyway.”

For a few minutes they stood and talked in the kitchen, Cameron making light of the incident and making strenuous efforts to dissemble the rage that filled his soul. After a few minutes conversation Cameron announced his intention of going to bed, while Mandy pa.s.sed upstairs. He left the house and stole down the lane toward the road. The throbbing pain in his head was forgotten in the blind rage that possessed him. He had only one longing, to stand within striking distance of the cowardly curs, only one fear, that they should escape him. Swiftly, silently, he stole down the lane, every nerve, every muscle tense as a steel spring. His throat was hot, his eyes so dazzled that he could scarcely see; his breath came in quick gasps; his hands were trembling as with a nervous chill. The storm had partially blown away. It had become so light that he could dimly discern a number of figures at the entrance to the lane. Having his quarry in sight, Cameron crouched in the fence corner, holding hard by the rail till he should become master of himself. He could hear their explosions of suppressed laughter. It was some minutes before he had himself in hand, then with a swift silent run he stood among them.

So busy were they in recounting the various incidents in the recent ”chivaree,” that before they were aware Cameron was upon them. At his approach the circle broke and scattered, some flying to the fence. But Perkins with some others stood their ground.

”h.e.l.lo, Cameron!” drawled Perkins. ”Did you see our cows? I thought I heard some of them down the line.”

For answer Cameron launched himself at him like a bolt from a bow. There was a single sharp crack and Perkins was literally lifted clear off his feet and hurled back upon the road, where he lay still. Fiercely Cameron faced round to the next man, but he gave back quickly. A third sprang to throw himself upon Cameron, but once more Cameron's hand shot forward and his a.s.sailant was hurled back heavily into the arms of his friends.

Before Cameron could strike again a young giant, known as Sam Sailor, flung his arms about him, crying--

”Tut-tut, young fellow, this won't do, you know. Can't you take a bit of fun?”

For answer Cameron clinched him savagely, gripping him by the throat and planting two heavy blows upon his ribs.

”Here--boys,” gasped the young fellow, ”he's--chokin'--the--life--out--of me.”

From all sides they threw themselves upon him and, striking, kicking, fighting furiously, Cameron went down under the struggling ma.s.s, his hand still gripping the throat it had seized.

”Say! He's a regular bull-dog,” cried one. ”Git hold of his legs and yank him off,” which, with shouts and laughter, they proceeded to do and piled themselves upon him, chanting the refrain--”More beef! More beef!”

A few minutes more of frantic struggling and a wild agonised scream rose from beneath the ma.s.s of men.

”Git off, boys! Git off!” roared the young giant. ”I'm afraid he's hurt.”

Flinging them off on either side, he stood up and waited for their victim to rise. But Cameron lay on his face, moaning and writhing, on the ground.

”Say, boys,” said Sam, kneeling down beside him, ”I'm afraid he's hurted bad.”

In his writhing Cameron lifted one leg. It toppled over to one side.

”Jumpin' Jeremiah!” said Sam in an awed voice. ”His leg's broke! What in Sam Hill can we do?”

<script>