"What's your name?" said the man, with his face considerably redder than before.
"Kate Loudon," said the girl.
"Oh, ho! Loudon, is it? Well, Kate Loudon, if my hand's too dirty to shake, you'll find it isn't too dirty to box your ears."
Kate turned pale and shrank back against a tree. She gave a hurried glance into the woods, and then she called out, as loudly as she could: "Harry!"
The man, who had made a step toward her, now stopped and looked around, as if he would like to know who Harry was, before going any further.
Just then, Harry, who had heard Kate's call, came running up.
When the man saw him he seemed relieved, and a curious smile stretched itself beneath his bristling red moustache.
"What's the matter?" cried Harry.
"Oh, Harry!" Kate exclaimed, as she ran to him.
"Matter?" said the man. "The matter's this: I'm going to box her ears."