Lee turned back through the pages of the old science book, studying a section here, copying off a diagram there in painstaking pencil lines. In between times he roamed the Renaud place from attic to cellar, from old stable yard to wood lot. And the things he collected—a broken pipestem, a bit of beeswax, some feathers, an old cornstalk, wire, a needle, a few threads raveled from a piece of yellowed silk! A strange assortment for a strong, husky boy to spend his time gathering together! Anybody might have thought he had gone as batty as old Johnny Poolak. Only there was nobody to see. And as for bothering about making himself ridiculous—um! well, Lee Renaud was so intent upon his task that all thought of self had gone out of his head.
Towards the end of the week, Lee tramped over to the Bobb cabin.
“Good evening, everybody! Tomorrow suppose—” in his excitement, Lee twisted his cap round and round in his hands—“suppose old Pomp and I come here and carry Jimmy, chair and all, over to our place. I’ve got something to show him. It would be all right, wouldn’t it?”
“Would it! O-o-oh! Think of going somewhere!” Jimmy Bobb swayed in his chair. His eyes seemed to get three sizes bigger. “I can, can’t I, ma?”
Not being given to over many words, Sarah Ann Bobb merely nodded. But her face was no longer apathetic; some of its tiredness seemed to have gone away.
The next day, though, when Lee and old Pomp parted the bushes on the narrow trail and came out on the bare knoll of the Bobb place, things appeared entirely different. There was a change in atmosphere—due to a group of rough-looking fellows massed close to the cabin door. Some of those tobacco-spitting loafers Lee had had to navigate around every time he went to the country store! Like all the Cove people, these gangling youths were an unkempt, taciturn lot. Even as Lee and Pomp drew nearer, they gave no greeting, but merely drew closer together like a guard before the door.
Lee Renaud could almost feel the down on his spine prickle as his anger rose against them. What was this gang up to? They had gathered here for something! Must have heard that he and Pomp were going to carry Jimmy over to the electrical shop. Full of the Coveite’s ignorances and superstitions, they must have gotten together here to try to interfere with his plans. Well, just let ’em try to stop him—just let ’em! Involuntarily his fists clenched, his jaw tightened. He was going to give Jimmy a good time—as he’d planned! He’d fight ’em all before he’d give up!
Renaud strode forward, with old Pomp edging back a little behind him.
Lem Hicks, who seemed to be leader of the gang, detached himself from his fellows and stepped out into the path.
When the long-armed, hulking Lemuel spoke, what he had to say came nearer knocking the wind out of Lee Renaud than any fist blow might have done.