Carrie shrinks back to the side of Forty-nine.
"Oh! Help! He will murder him! He will kill him!"
"No, I won't murder you, you brat, but I'll chuck you out in that snow and let you cool off, while I have your sister all to myself. Come here; give me your ear!" and the great, strong ruffian seizes his ear and fairly carries him along by it toward the door. "Give me your ear!"
"Oh, sister, sister! He will kill me!" howls Stumps.
"Forty-nine! save us! We will be murdered!"
"Come, I say, give me your ear!" thunders the brute, as he fairly draws the boy still toward the door.
"Stop that, or die!"
The frenzied girl, failing to arouse Forty-nine, has caught up the gun from the corner, and brought the muzzle to the ruffian's breast. He totters back, and throws up his arms.
"Go back there and sit down, or I will kill you!"
"Give me your ear! Come!" roars Stumps. It is now his turn. "Give me your ear!" He reaches up and takes that red organ in his hand, and nearly wrenches it from the brute's head, as he leads him back, with many twists and gyrations, slowly to a low seat at the other side of the cabin.