CHAPTER XIV
COLD NERVE
Again and again the man-hunter stabbed at the hay, moving about with each new attack, lunging more viciously as his searching prods brought no result. Douglas felt a little chilly as he visualized what might have happened if Uncle Eb’s advice had not been disregarded at the last minute. And the old man down below, hearing the loud rustle of the dried grass and knowing nothing of the change in Steve’s place of refuge, lost his grip on himself.
With a yell he came thundering up the stairs, his walrus mustache bristling like tusks and his jaw jutting as if about to bite.
“Git often that hay!” he bellowed. “Git outen here! An’ git quick, ’fore I muckle onto ye. I’ll sling ye head-fust outen the winder! Git!”
The man above had jumped about and swung the fork menacingly before him. Infuriated still further by the sight of his own hay-tool turned against him, the old warrior sprang up the sloping side of the mow, panting inarticulate threats. But he collided with Douglas, who slid down at him and clinched.
“Hold your horses, Uncle Eb!” he exhorted. “He’s not hurting the hay or smoking in it—only jabbing the fork into it, for some reason or other. Let him fool around. Whoa! Quiet down!”
But Eb’s blood was up, and he knew no reason why he should quiet down. He fought to break free, and the younger man found his hands very full. Tussling mightily, they reeled about at the foot of the slope, in imminent danger of slipping over the edge of the open gap in the floor and crashing down the steep stairs. The man Ward, who had bounded part-way up to aid his companion if necessary, took one look and hastily got from under. His mate Bill, still holding the fork poised for defense, grinned nastily at the grappling pair.
Douglas got his chin on Eb’s shoulder and ventured a whisper from the corner of his mouth.
“It’s all right. He’s not there.”
It took some seconds for his meaning to penetrate the old fellow’s raging brain, but Douglas managed to hold him until he understood. Then all at once he ceased struggling. Too, he quick-wittedly gave a deceptive excuse for his outbreak.