The fellow recognized Frank at the same moment. There was no sidewalk at this point, and Merry was walking along the road. With a muttered exclamation, Dyke cut the horse with his whip, and the spirited animal leaped straight at Frank.
It was an attempt to run Merry down, and Frank did not leap out of the way. Instead, with a swift movement and a grasp of iron, he caught the animal by the bit and set it on its haunches, with a single wrench, causing it to snort with terror and bringing Dyke tumbling into the dust.
Conrad sprang up, snarling forth angry words.
“What do you mean, you dog!” he almost shouted. “Why, I’ll—I’ll——”
“Be good enough to mount your horse and go on your way,” came quietly from Frank. “I do not wish to lift my hand in anger against you—now.”
“But you caught my horse by the bit and made me lose my seat.”
“I was forced to do it to protect myself when you tried to run me down.”
“You might have got out of the way!”
“There was little time for that. Come, do as I asked. I do not wish a quarrel with you now.”
Dyke took this as a symptom of fear.