“I—I—I—did not know it was your spring!” the little girl answered, as she scrambled to her feet and dropped her leaf-cup.
“Of course you didn’t!” the Strange Man cried as he came up to her and caught her arm fiercely. “Of course you didn’t! Of course you didn’t!”
And with that he raised his stick above his head as if to strike her. “I’ll teach you to drink of my spring!”
Janey screamed and pulled with all her might to get away, but the Strange Man held her tightly.
Johnny, hearing his sister’s cry, came running through the ferns, and seeing the Strange Man about to hit Janey, he flew at him like a little tiger. When about eight feet from the Strange Man, Johnny, who was running at good speed, jumped through the air and landed upon the Strange Man’s back. The force of his dive carried himself and the Strange Man head over heels, knocked off the Strange Man’s tall hat and made him lose his hold upon Janey and the stick.
Johnny was on top when they finally quit rolling and with all his might he pummeled the Strange Man about the head. The Strange Man’s long legs kicked through the air and he scratched at Johnny’s face with his long fingers.
The Strange Man cried out for Johnny to quit, but Johnny, angry at the Strange Man’s treatment of his sister, managed to get his knees on the Strange Man’s arms, sat upon his chest and pounded him right and left.
“You just wait! I’ll catch you and pay you back!” (page [31])
“Say enough!” Johnny yelled. “Say enough! Say enough!” and Johnny caught hold of the Strange Man’s long hair and bumped his head upon the ground.