Part 49 (1/2)

As he spoke there was a sound of running feet, coming down the lane.

The moon, s.h.i.+ning through the breaking clouds, revealed a figure with floating garments rapidly approaching.

”My cats!” cried Sam in a terrified voice. ”It's Mandy.”

Like leaves before a sudden gust of wind the group scattered and only Sam was left.

”What--what are you doin'?” panted Mandy. ”Where is he? Oh, is that him?” She flung herself down in the dust beside Cameron and turned him over. His face was white, his eyes glazed. He looked like death. ”Oh!

Oh!” she moaned. ”Have they killed you? Have they killed you?” She gathered his head upon her knees, moaning like a wounded animal.

”Good Lord, Mandy, don't go on like that!” cried Sam in a horrified voice. ”It's only his leg broke.”

Mandy laid his head gently down, then sprang to her feet.

”Only his leg broke? Who done it? Who done it, tell me? Who done it?”

she panted, her voice rising with her gasping breath. ”What coward done it? Was it you, Sam Sailor?”

”Guess we're all in it,” said Sam stupidly. ”It was jist a bit of fun, Mandy.”

For answer she swung her heavy hand hard upon Sam's face.

”Say, Mandy! Hold hard!” cried Sam, surprise and the weight of the blow almost knocking him off his feet.

”You cowardly brute!” she gasped. ”Get out of my sight. Oh, what shall we do?” She dropped on her knees and took Cameron's head once more in her arms. ”What shall we do?”

”Guess we'll have to git him in somewheres,” said Sam. ”How can we carry him though? If we had some kind of a stretcher?”

”Wait! I know,” cried Mandy, flying off up the lane.

Before many minutes had pa.s.sed she had returned, breathing hard.

”It's--the---milkhouse--door,” she said. ”I--guess that'll--do.”

”That'll do all right, Mandy. Now I wish some of them fellers would come.”

Sam pulled off his coat and made of it a pillow, then stood up looking for help. His eye fell upon the prostrate and senseless form of Perkins.

”Say, what'll we do with him?” he said, pointing to the silent figure.

”Who is it?” enquired Mandy. ”What's the matter?”

”It's Perkins,” replied Sam. ”He hit him a terrible crack.”

”Perkins!” said Mandy with scorn. ”Let him lie, the dog. Come on, take his head.”

”You can't do it, Mandy, no use trying. You can't do it.”

”Come on, I tell you,” she said fiercely. ”Quit your jawin'. He may be dyin' for all I know. I'd carry him alone if it wasn't for his broken leg.” Slowly, painfully they carried him to the house and to the front door.

”Wait a minute!” said Mandy. ”I'll have to git things fixed a bit. We mustn't wake mother. It would scare her to death.”

She pa.s.sed quickly into the house and soon Sam saw a light pa.s.s from room to room. In a few moments Mandy reappeared at the front door.