'Get away, lass!' shouted the carter roughly. 'Where women are men's work is always fouled.'
'You unmannerly churl!' shouted Caris; and he struck the carter sharply across the shoulders with his end of the rope.
The man flung himself round and tried to strike his assailant in return with the thong of his long mule-whip; but Caris caught it in his grip and closed with him.
They wrestled savagely for a moment, then the carter, freeing his right arm, snatched out of his breeches belt the knife which every man carries, however severely the law may denounce and forbid such a habit. It would have buried its sharp, narrow blade in the ribs or the breast of Caris had not the other men, at a shout from Massaio, who came hurrying up, thrown themselves on the two combatants, and pulled them apart.
'To —— with you both!' cried Massaio, furious to see his cart stuck in the sand, its load of wood oscillating, and the time wasted of men whom he paid by the day.
Santina had stood quietly on the bank above the mules and the men, watching with keen interest and pleasure.
'Why did you stop them, uncle?' she cried to Massaio pettishly. 'I do love to see two good lads fight. 'Tis a sight that warms one's blood like good communion wine.'
But no one heeded what she said.
On these hills women are used but never listened to by any man.
'The cows give milk, not opinions,' the men said to their womenkind.