“I won’t be still,” I returned. “Let me up!”
“Quiet, I tell you. Hurry up!” he called to the others.
“We’re coming,” they cried.
“Have you got him?” added Mr. Norton anxiously.
“Yes; but he’s three handsful to handle.”
“We’ll be there in a second.”
By this time I had squirmed to one side, and managed by hard work to partly raise myself.
Seeing this, Avery gave me a stinging blow on the side of the head.
The crack made me see stars, and I fell back. But I did not lose my presence of mind, and I returned the blow with interest.