The sister had laid the child on the ground and was kneeling beside him.
Komatsu knelt on the other side, feeling the little legs and body.
"No break bones," he said briefly.
Miss Campbell sat on the ground by the unconscious child, wondering vaguely if she would ever rise again.
"They may tear us to pieces before we get back. They are like an angry, silent pack of wolves," she thought to herself. "Komatsu," she said aloud, "I believe he has fainted from fright," She put the smelling bottle to the baby's funny snub nose.
Presently the boy opened his eyes.
At this moment from the midst of the crowd there came a strange shrill cry and a distracted looking woman began beating and fighting her way toward the group.
"Honorable mother come in big hurry," said Komatsu, in a low voice.
"Gracious lady, take jinriksha. Honorable quickness best now."
"But the child isn't injured, Komatsu. Look, he's opened his eyes and he's going to sit up. It was simply fright."
"No like honorable devil-wagon," went on Komatsu steadily.
While this low, rapid dialogue was taking place Billie, standing on the front seat of the "Comet" on the lookout for help, saw something that made her blood turn cold. A band of fierce looking young men in Japanese costume was approaching on the run. The leader was brandishing a short knife with a two-edged glittering blade and the others flourished sword canes. Billie was thankful that Miss Campbell was too much occupied at that moment in assuring the poor mother that her child was not injured to notice this murderous looking company. Komatsu had quietly placed himself beside the car, faithful soul, ready to die in the service of his ladies.