In an instant Phil sprang towards the gun, but before he reached it, Emile seized him by the shoulder and rudely pulled him back. Phil turned savagely, but before he could strike the French boy the latter clinched him, and a violent struggle ensued.
He seemed intent upon pushing his antagonist backward
Jenny had now arrived on the scene, and she and Susan stood back, almost dumb with terror.
“Where is Joel?” gasped Susan.
“He has gone to the woods,” replied Jenny, with tears in her eyes.
Emile was taller and stronger than Phil, and in a contest of this kind he had greatly the advantage. His method of fighting was very peculiar. He seemed intent upon pushing his antagonist backward and jamming him against chairs and the corners of tables.
Two or three times it looked as if Phil’s back would be broken, but he always managed to twist himself out of his awkward positions.
At last Emile thrust him violently away from him and sent him staggering backward across the hall. At that moment Susan rushed forward. Snatching Old Bruden from the corner where it stood, she ran to Phil and put the gun in his hand.
“Here,” she cried, “take it and kill him!”