Part 38 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXVII
THE RED OAR AGAIN
”Cora Kimball, what are you going to do?” gasped Lottie, trying to hold back her chum.
”I'm going to go to Denny's aid. Why shouldn't I? It's four to one, but even if we are girls we can perhaps turn the tide in his favor.”
”Oh, Cora, I don't dare!” admitted Belle.
”Nor I,” added her plump sister. ”I'll faint if you go in where those horrid men are.”
”Faint if you like,” returned Cora, calmly. ”Somebody else will have to look after you, then, for I'm going.”
”But why?” asked Lottie. ”We ought not to interfere when men are going to fight, and I think that's what's going to happen in there.”
”That is what's going to happen,” said Cora, ”but perhaps we can prevent it. For some unknown reason, though the boys promised to come here and defend Denny, they haven't done so. Therefore, it's our place to do it.”
”Yes, and I'm going with you!” announced Marita, determinedly.
All this talk had taken but a few seconds of time, and, as it had been in whispers, the men in the cabin had not heard it. The situation, however, was rapidly becoming acute.
With one accord, after Bruce had stepped toward old Denny, the others advanced. They were evidently going to lay violent hands on him. But the st.u.r.dy fisherman was not afraid.
”Stand back!” he cried. ”Stand back or I'll do you harm--you cowards!”
”No use calling names!” sneered Kelly. ”We're here to do you. We made you a fair offer, and you wouldn't take it. Now you'll have to abide by the consequences.”
”Get behind him,” said Bruce. ”I can take him from where I stand.”
”Get back! Get out of here!” ordered the old man.
He raised the red oar over his head, threateningly.
”Grab him!” cried Moran. ”Grab that oar!”
”You'll get it over the head before you grab it!” threatened Denny.
”Mind that, now!”
The fisherman swung his weapon, but he either had not calculated on the length of it, or he forgot that he was nearer to the wall than he had been at first. The blade of the oar caught in a hanging picture, and was entangled in the wire.
Denny, putting all his strength into the blow he had hoped would disable one of his a.s.sailants, was thrown off his balance. He toppled and nearly fell.
”Now we've got him!” yelled Kelly.
The cowardly men, attacking the single fisherman with overwhelming numbers, made a leap forward.
”Stop! Let him alone. We'll call the police!” screamed Cora, and the other girls added their shrill voices to hers. They rushed into the cabin.
”The girls I raced with!” muttered Bruce. ”We've no time to fool with them. Don't mind them. Get at Shane!”
”Get at me, is it?” cried the fisherman. He had by this time disentangled the oar from the picture wire. Again he raised it over his head, intending to bring it down on Kelly.