Uncle Al grabbed Jimmy's arm and swung him around. "You heard what I said, young fella. Now git!"
"I want to stay here and fight with you, Uncle Al," Jimmy said.
"Have you got a gun? Do you want to be blown apart, young fella?"
"I'm not scared, Uncle Al," Jimmy pleaded. "You might get wounded. I know how to shoot straight, Uncle Al. If you get hurt I'll go right on fighting!"
"No you won't, young fella! Take Pigtail inside. You hear me? You want me to take you across my knee and beat the livin' stuffings out of you?"
Silence.
Deep in his uncle's face Jimmy saw an anger he couldn't buck. Grabbing Pigtail Anne by the arm, he propelled her across the deck and into the dismal front room of the shantyboat.
The instant he released her she glared at him and stamped her foot. "If Uncle Al gets shot it'll be your fault," she said cruelly. Then Pigtail's anger really flared up.
"The Harmons wouldn't dare shoot us 'cause we're children!"