CHAPTER XXIII
Ralph Saves Bollup from Dismissal
“There’s the carriage; it’s stopping,” said Bollup to Ralph, as the two lads emerged from the woods. “Let’s hurry; we’ll get in it and out of this rain.” And Bollup started on a run. Ralph was behind and to his left. It was at this moment that Lambo had jumped to the carriage seat. Bollup yelled at him; Lambo turned half around and perceiving Bollup shouted back at him defiantly and fired his pistol at him, driving rapidly at the same time. The desperate negro did not see Ralph, nor did he know, when he had turned around and was threatening the two girls inside, that hanging on the rear axle of the old carriage was a determined, broad-shouldered youth with an ominous looking baseball bat clutched along the axle. Ralph was soon standing on the axle, and peering over the top of the carriage at this lawless negro, who was now lashing his horses into a dead run. Ralph quickly scrambled on top of the carriage, bat in hand. The noise attracted the negro who turned around and saw a determined, powerful avenger raising a club with both hands high over his head. With a howl of rage and fright he started to aim his pistol at Ralph, but in the same instant the club came down with deadening force on the negro’s head, sending the pistol off at the same time. Lambo rolled off the carriage in a heap; his skull was cracked, and the bullet from his own pistol had gone through his heart. Without concerning himself with Lambo’s fate Ralph clambered to the driver’s seat, reached down and gathered up the reins, and soon had the old horses slowed to a trot. Looking back he saw, some distance behind, Bollup and a negro, evidently James, bending over a man’s body lying face down in the road. He then stopped the horses and assured the girls: “You’re safe, girls; everything is all right. Tom is beckoning me to come back; I’m going to turn the horses around.”
He turned around and started back. At a little distance Bollup came running up. “Bully for you, Os,” he cried; “the scoundrel is dead,” he added lowering his voice; “let me get in, and drive quickly by where he is lying; I don’t want the girls to see him.”
Ralph stopped long enough for Bollup to jump inside, and then drove off rapidly, and in half an hour the carriage was back at Hampden Grove. It was raining furiously now, not a propitious time for conversation, nor did Ralph attempt any through the aperture to the brother and sisters in the carriage. He was utterly drenched, and when the horses stopped in front of the house, he jumped to the ground and said: “I’ll get you an umbrella and then will change into dry clothes.” He dashed into the house and returned in a moment with two umbrellas which he handed to Bollup who was assisting the two girls out of the carriage, and then Ralph bounded up to his room.
Bollup rushed in a few moments later. “You killed him, Os,” he cried; “how did you get his pistol?”
“I didn’t have his pistol; I hit him with the ball club just as he fired at me,” explained Ralph.
“He killed himself then,” said Bollup. “By George, old man, I can’t express my feelings. When I saw that villain drive off with my sisters, and saw you climbing up on top of the carriage I was wild with fear and anxiety. I was afraid he would shoot you. The very happiest instant of my life seemed to last ages and ages; it was when you were bringing the club down on the rascal’s head. By gracious, but that was well done! And I’m thankful the fellow did his own dirty work. I’m glad he spared some white man the duty of killing him. Come down quickly; father is wild to see you. Mother is pretty much upset, but you’ll find you own Hampden Grove and all that’s in it.”
When Ralph went down-stairs, Mrs. Bollup came to him, and said: “My dear boy——” and then the thought of the danger all of her children had just passed through almost overcame her, and tears flowed from her eyes. “My dear Ralph, I shall always love you,” she said, and then bent forward and kissed him.
“What a hero you are, Mr. Osborn,” said Dorothy; “I am so glad to know a real hero.”
Gladys thanked Ralph quietly, but with a deep sincerity and appreciation that went straight to that young man’s heart. There was much excitement in the family, and Ralph received unmeasured praise and admiration for his timely action.