About half-way across the field was a clump of bushes, and Gran’pa said, “Perhaps it would be as well to walk around it.” But as they drew nearer the bushes began moving, and what seemed at first to be a flock of birds arose and flew towards them.
As the objects came closer Gran’pa saw they were Boxing Gloves; swarms of them. They flew about the little group and peppered them from all sides. Gran’pa struck them right and left with his cane, but was finally forced down. The children, Gran’ma and the Faun Boys ran as fast as they could across the field, followed by the Boxing Gloves, which swarmed about their heads like giant bees and hit against their backs and heads.
Gran’pa, still on the ground, struck right and left with his heavy cane and at each swing he brought down one or two of the Boxing Gloves.
The children, Gran’ma and the Faun Boys by this time had reached the other side of the field and dashed into the underbrush. For some reason the Boxing Gloves did not follow, but turned and flew back and began pelting Gran’pa.
Whenever Gran’pa managed to get to his feet the Boxing Gloves knocked him down, so he lay on his back and struck right and left and kicked his heels in the air to keep them from striking him.
When Johnny saw that the Boxing Gloves did not follow into the underbrush he told Gran’ma and Janey to wait where they were and breaking off a stout stick Johnny rushed back to Gran’pa’s assistance.
The stick was so long and heavy that he tripped over it, but he didn’t mind that—just jumped up and ran faster than ever.
Gran’pa struck them right and left with his cane, but was finally knocked down. (page [50])
Some of the Boxing Gloves met him half-way and although Johnny knocked them down by the hundreds, he could not defend himself from all sides and three or four of the Boxing Gloves, striking him from behind, sent him flying to the ground.