"Say that again."
"I say it."
"Now then—are you going to hit me?"
"I intend to."
Then the old man and his wife fell to fighting, clawing and battering each other, the woman screaming out that she would have a baby, the man that she should not.
Iver had managed to enter. The woman snatched at the child, the man wrenched it away from her. The boy was fain to escape outside and fly from the house with the child lest the babe should be torn in pieces between them. He knew old Cheel and his wife well by repute—for a couple ever quarrelling.
He now made his way to another house, one occupied by settlers of another family. There were here some sturdy sons and daughters.
When Iver had entered with the babe in his arms and had told his tale, the young people were full of excitement.
"Bill," said one of the lads to his brother, "I say! This is news. I'm off to see."
"I'll go along wi' you, Joe."