“Look out for the little devil or he’ll kill us!”
CHAPTER XIII.
AN UNEXPECTED CHAMPION.
As Ruddy raised his right arm over his head to throw the missile, which might have struck some one with deadly effect, a clear, sharp voice rang out over the startling scene, quickly ending the outbreak:
“Hold, boy! don’t throw that stone, or I will horsewhip you within an inch of your life!”
The first word had been sufficient to check the rash boy in his dangerous work, when he turned hastily about to find a man had ridden close to the edge of the crowd, and, standing up in his carriage, held a long, stout whip poised over his head ready to send its stinging lash around his body did he fail to obey him.
“What is all this rumpus about?” demanded this newcomer, who instantly made himself master of the situation.
“These youngsters are raising particular cain with our boys, Dr. Menter. I don’t know but they have killed Ralph,” said ’Squire Hardy.
“Looks as if your boy was coming out of it better than this fellow with the bleeding head,” replied the man in the carriage, who was the village physician, beginning to step out upon the ground.
Ruddy had dropped the rocks in his hands and stood with looks of combined fear and wonder. Chick had already dropped from his perch on a man’s shoulders and sought the side of Ruddy.
“I hope he has been killed!” declared the ’squire.