“An’ I’se de only man dat ye ebber lub?”
A moment’s pause, and again bang! bang! went her head.
Alfred couldn’t wait for the answer; he gripped his stick, sprang through the door, knocked the Apostle flat on his back, and jumped on him.
Aunt Julie Ann was more astonished than Isaac at her sudden deliverance.
She scrambled to her feet and gazed for a moment in amazement at Alfred as he pummelled Isaac’s head against the floor with one hand and pounded him with the other.
At every thump of his head Isaac yelled:
“God sabe me! de debble done got me! Help, Lawd, help! Save me Lawd—save me now!” Alfred pounded steadily away.
Aunt Julie Ann, when she caught her breath, grasped Alfred’s arm and yelled:
“What yer doin’ here, nigger!”
He wrenched his arm loose from her grasp and hit Isaac a smashing blow in the mouth as he cried again for help.