“Get down quick!” he commanded. “You might get hurt!”
Mabel glanced about her.
Hanging on a nail from the side of the stall she saw a curry comb and brush. With a quick leap she seized them, and then, running forward, she threw them with all her strength.
Her aim was perfect, and true to its mark the heavy brush shot forward, catching Jones squarely in the forehead.
Jones staggered back and dropped his weapon.
But the blow was not hard enough to knock him down, and he sprang up again with a cry of rage and stooped to pick up the gun.
At that instant Mabel opened wide Gabriel’s stall.
With an almost human cry, Gabriel, who had been jumping about angrily, charged through the door straight at Jones. The latter saw him coming, and leaped aside, and Gabriel, striking out with his forefeet, missed.
Jones ran quickly toward the door and laid hold of the knob.
But before he could turn it the horse was again upon him. Snorting, he shoved out his head, and his teeth met in Jones’ arm.