“You let him alone!” she exclaimed. “If you go after him I’ll scratch your eyes out!”
And she looked fierce and strong enough to put her threat into execution as she stood her ground.
“Mind,” she went on, “don’t you dare to stir a step after him!”
“So that’s the way the land lays, eh?” sneered the fellow. “Well, we’ll see about that.”
Putting his finger to his lips he blew a shrill whistle. Hardly had the echo died away than two more men, more roughly dressed, if possible, than the first man, made their appearance from behind bushes where they had evidently been hiding.
“I’ve found him,” said the first man to his companions. “Now these people want to interfere.”
“Knock ’em out of the way,” growled one of the late comers.
“Look here!” began Jerry who was beginning to get angry. “If there’s any knocking to be done I guess we can do our share.”
“When did you leave home?” asked the first man, with a sneer. “Look out, young tenderfoot, how you mix up in this matter.”