Mr. Harris began an earnest expostulation, and turned to beckon me to his assistance, but Jim checked him by a gesture.
"We can't have any disputing here," he said, sharply. "Don't argy, parson; tain't wuth while."
Then he opened the gate and stepped suddenly out among them.
"I'll go with ye," he said, "for the sake of peace. But," glaring about him fiercely, "if it wan't fer makin' a disturbance, again the doctor's orders, I'd take ye one at a time and thrash a little sense into ye. Come along, Mr. Constable; I'm goin' to 'pear' afore Jestice Summers, an' I'm goin' to walk right to the head o' this mob o' your'n, an' don't ye try to come none o' yer jailer dodges over me. Ye kin all walk behind, an' welcome, but the first man as undertakes to lay a finger on me, or step along-side—somethin'll happen to him."
And Jim thrust his hands deep down in his pockets, walked coolly through the group, which divided to let him pass, and strode off up the hill.
"Goodness!" ejaculated the valorous officer of the law, "is—is there a man here that's got a pistol?"
No reply from his supporters.
I put my hand behind me and produced a small revolver.