Jones shrieked with the pain of it.
Mabel, cowering down in the stall, began to cry.
Three times Jones, his arm dripping blood, dashed around the place with Gabriel in pursuit. The man was badly frightened, but fear lent fleetness to his feet. He avoided Gabriel’s teeth narrowly several times and so far had succeeded in dodging the flying hoofs.
But such a struggle could have but one outcome.
Suddenly Jones found himself in a corner from which there was no escape.
Gabriel reared high in the air, and his forefeet, in their descent, struck Jones squarely upon the head. The man went down in a heap. Gabriel, seeing his foe prostrate on the floor, stood off and made ready to leap upon him again.
But at that moment the door opened and Jimmy dashed inside, closely followed by Shirley and the others.
Jimmy leapt for Gabriel’s halter, but missed.
Once more the animal reared high in the air, and his heavy feet would have crushed out Jones’ life had it not been for Shirley’s prompt action.
She jumped in front of Gabriel and into the air, caught him by the halter; then, springing aside, she drew herself clear of the heavy hoofs just as they came down with a crash.