Part 33 (1/2)
”No, ye ain't.”
”Yes, I am.”
A scuffle followed these words, and Douglas could dimly see the forms of the two men as they rolled and tumbled about on the ground. Then some one pulled them apart and administered a resounding cuff upon their ears.
”Stop fightin', ye fools,” was the peremptory order. ”De'ye want to spoil the whole show to-night?”
”Who's spoilin' the show?”
”You are.”
”I ain't. I want to go home. I'm sick of this business.”
”Ye'r not goin' till the guy comes, I tell ye.”
”When's he comin'?”
”I don't know.”
”He'll stay there till midnight. They always do. I never got home till mornin' when I was courtin', an' Sal wasn't half as sweet as the 'fessor's daughter. Gad, she's a peach!”
”Ye'r no judge of beauty, Tom Fleet,” was the retort. ”You'd kiss a cow when ye'r drunk, thinkin' she's beautiful.”
”I ain't drunk, I tell ye.”
”Ye are.”
”I ain't; I'm only sleepy an' want to go home.”
”Well, ye ain't goin' till the guy comes.”
”Then I'm goin' to fetch him.”
”Now, ye'r talkin'. That's the stuff, Tom. We'll take him from his lady love. Come on.”
”Wait a minute,” one of the bunch ordered. ”How'll we do it?”
What their plan was Douglas could not tell, for their voices suddenly became low as they made their plans. But it did not matter. He knew that they were after him, and most likely would go to the house and do considerable harm. He must have a.s.sistance, and he at once thought of Jake. With him at his side, he felt that the men before him could be mastered, especially in their present condition.
Creeping through the bushes as quietly as possible, he reached the open field and across this he bounded like a greyhound. He knew that every minute was precious, and the thought of Nell facing those drunken men caused his feet fairly to spurn the gra.s.s. Reaching the main road, he tore through the dust, sprang over a ditch, leaped a fence, raced through the orchard and ran plumb into Jake and Empty standing at the back door.
”Great punkins!” Jake exclaimed, recovering from the impact. ”What's wrong?”
”Quick, quick!” Douglas panted. ”Come at once. Ben's men are after me. They think I'm at the professor's, and they are going to break into the house. Hurry.”
”G-g-good Lord,” Jake stuttered in amazement. ”Let me git me gun!”
”No, no, never mind that; your fists will do. Come.”
Without waiting for further parley, Douglas darted away, with Jake and Empty close at his heels. He did not go to the spot where he had left the men but kept off into the middle of the field, and ran down opposite the professor's house. Then turning sharply to the left, he hurried across to the garden and stopped before the row of bushes which ran almost to the sh.o.r.e.
The rescuers were not a moment too soon, for the attackers had already reached the house and were pounding loudly upon the back door. When it presently slowly opened, Douglas could hear Nell's voice anxiously enquiring what was the matter.