“Come here, Martin!” shouted he to one of his fellow-conspirators; and this was the only name I heard used during the whole of the strife.
“Why don’t you knock him?” demanded the person called, as he sprang forward to assist the big fellow.
I continued to retreat, and intended to fall back upon my boat for protection; but the second assailant got in behind me, and presently I saw more stars than I was anxious to behold in broad daylight. I concluded that I was a fool to indulge in squeamishness on such an occasion, when my head was in danger of being “caved in” by the heavy blows of the rascals. Besides, the rap I had received had a tendency to rouse my ire; in fact, it did rouse it; and at the next convenient opportunity, I struck the big fellow a smart blow on the head. Evidently it hit him in a tender place, for he dropped flat upon the ground.
I was alarmed at this catastrophe, and fortunately the second assailant was affected in the same way. I had secured a position where I could not be attacked in the rear, and having disposed of the heaviest of my foes, I turned upon the other. The fate of his companion was a salutary lesson to him, and he retired to the side of the fallen champion.
But the big fellow was not so badly damaged as I had feared. He was not even stunned, and soon sprang to his feet, rubbing his head, and endeavoring to collect his scattered ideas. My own head felt as though a cannon-ball had dropped upon it. I took off my cap and examined the place with my hand. There was a big “bump” on the side of my head to certify the damage I had received.
“Come up here, fellows!” shouted the leader in the enterprise, with a savage oath, when he had in some measure recovered from the shock of the blow I had given him.
They arranged their disguises anew, and held a consultation. I could not hear what they said, but I knew that I was the subject of their remarks. Each of them then provided himself with a club, and I realized that they intended to make an organized attack upon me. If they captured me, my chances of being tarred and feathered were about as good as those of Waddie. It would have been the most prudent thing I could do to retire from the field, and permit the party to carry out their vicious purpose upon the little magnate of Centreport. Though I had been “punished” as much as I cared for, I felt so much interest in the affair that I was not willing to leave.
I saw two of the party, who had not before been engaged, start at a smart run, with the evident intention of getting between me and the water. I broke into a run myself, and made for the boat. Jumping on board, I pushed her off far enough to save me from molestation. But then I observed that the other two ruffians had not engaged in the pursuit. The two who had done so stationed themselves on the bank of the lake, and appeared to be so well satisfied that I began to think something was wrong.
Suddenly it flashed upon my mind that the big fellow intended to outwit me; that he and his companion would do the dirty job while my two guards kept me at a safe distance. Having put my hand to the plow, I had too much pride, if not principle, to permit myself to be outflanked in this manner. As the case now stood, the big ruffian had won the battle. I was disgusted with myself, and hastened to retrieve the mistake I had made. I pushed the boat in toward the shore, and my two sentinels stepped down to meet me.
“That’s a fine boat you have, Wolf,” said one of them good-naturedly, as he leaped on the half-deck.