“Keep away from here,” commanded the ugly man, to Neale.
“I guess not,” responded the boy sharply. “You don’t seem to be doing anything to help him.”
“What did he want to get tangled up with the ram for, then?” demanded the fellow.
“He was trying to help the poor Billy goat,” Tess sobbed, from the shelter of Agnes’ arms.
“You city folks are too fresh, anyhow,” cried one of the ragged children. “We ought to stone you kids. Hadn’t we, Uncle Jim?”
But the man was busy with Neale. “Let that rope alone!” he commanded, as the boy approached the entangled Sammy.
“Stand out of my way,” said Neale, taking out his pocketknife and opening the big blade. “And run your old sheep out of here when I cut him free.”
“Don’t you do that!” cried the man.
But with one stroke of the sharp blade Neale freed both the ram and Sammy.
“Ba-a-a! Bla-a-a-t!” uttered the ram, and shook his horns threateningly at Neale.