He raised his heavy hand and struck her a cruel blow on the side of the head. She staggered back, and he was about to repeat his unjust action, when Jerry thought it about time to interfere. Catching him by the arm, our hero hurled him backward with such force that he fell flat in the gutter.
At once a shout went up from those who saw Jerry’s action.
“What are yer doin’?”
“Who is that boy?”
With a fearful exclamation, Crazy Jim arose to his feet.
“I’ll fix ye fer that!” he hissed, and sprang forward. “You ain’t got no right ter interfere between me an’ the gal.”
“You are a brute!” burst out our hero. “This little girl has done nothing to deserve such punishment.”
“Who set you over me?” howled the infuriated man. “I’ll fix ye!”
He tried his best to hit Jerry with his fist, but the young oarsman dodged him and took a stand in front of the little girl.
“You had better run away,” Jerry whispered to her. “He is in a terrible mood just now.”