Part 45 (1/2)
”Oh, that's not ended yet. That indignation meeting may amount to something after all.”
”Not a bit of it. It'll all end in talk. Why, the people in this parish haven't the s.p.u.n.k of chickens when a hawk is after them. Dad's the hawk in this case, and they're frightened to death of him. Come, girls, let's go for a spin.”
If Ben Stubbles had only known what was really taking place in Rixton he would not have spoken so contemptuously about the people of the parish. The intense feeling which pervaded the community that day was ominous. Neighbours neglected their work as never before, and met in twos and threes near their line fences to discuss the one big question of the day. That they were determined to stand by Jake was most evident, and they impatiently waited for word that would stir them to action.
Their anger was further roused when they learned of what Ben had done to Jean Benton at Long Wharf. This was due to Empty, and the startling news spread from house to house with mysterious rapidity. No one doubted it for an instant, for Empty himself had heard it from Jean's own lips, and that settled it so far as the people were concerned. It was this which removed the last particle of hesitation in the mind of any one as to the necessity of action. When at last word came from Jake to be ready that night, the men were as one in their grim determination to take matters into their own hands.
The wharf near the store was the stated place of meeting, and there, just after sundown, the men of Rixton gathered. They came in little groups without any noise or clamour. Squire Hawkins, at first, had no idea of their intentions, but thought that they had come merely to meet the evening steamer. But as the crowd increased, he became somewhat uneasy as reports of impending trouble drifted to his ears. In his anxiety, he sent word to Simon Stubbles, telling him of his fears and advising him to come and disperse the men.
It was Ben who received the message just as he was about to head his car through the gate of the driveway leading up to the house. With a curse he swung his car to the right and started up the road toward the wharf. He would attend to the crowd, and send the men about their business. His father could make an example of the ringleaders later.
But for once in his life Ben Stubbles had reckoned without his cost.
As he drew up near where the men were gathered, he ordered them to clear out and go home.
”I know your plans,” he told them, ”but what do you think you can do?
Don't you know what will happen to you? Have you all gone crazy, you d---- fools?”
The only reply to these words was a roar of anger as the crowd surged toward the car. Ben, seeing them coming, and realising for the first time the seriousness of the situation, endeavoured to escape. But he was too late, for in an instant he was lifted off his feet and placed astride a pole which was carried upon the shoulders of two strong men.
Cursing and raving, Ben threw himself to the ground but was immediately hustled back again by a score of rough hands.
”Set still, ye beast, an' stop ye'r wrigglin',” Jake ordered. ”Ye'r only gettin' what's comin' to ye. Ye'll git a darn sight more if ye don't keep quiet.”
Away from the wharf and the main highway Ben was borne, and across an open meadow to a deep slimy frog-pond on the edge of a large swamp.
Here he was dumped unceremoniously upon the ground, and ordered to remove his clothes. When he hesitated and looked helplessly about as if seeking for some avenue of escape, rough hands seized him and in a few minutes he was standing as naked as the moment he was born. Ben's face was now pale and he was trembling in every limb. His cursing and raving had ceased and the cowardly heart of the man showed itself. He pleaded for mercy, and begged his captors to let him go.
”Not till we're through with ye,” Jake told him. ”Ye've had ye'r own way in this place long enough, an' it's our turn now.”
”We'll teach ye a thing or two, ye b.l.o.o.d.y liar,” Tom Totten roared.
”Ye'r heart's as black as ink, an' ye'r body'll be jist as black in a few minutes. Bring on the stuff, boys.”
At once a pail of coal-tar was produced, and seizing the brush which was handed him, Tom dipped it into the tar. At the first daub upon his naked body, Ben emitted a yell of despair and made a frantic effort to escape. But he was instantly seized and laid on the ground.
”Ye'd better keep quiet, me hearty,” Tom warned, as he rapidly smeared Ben's body from head to foot. ”If ye'r not careful I'll do ye'r face an' head at the same time.”
While this was taking place, several of the men were ripping open an old feather bed they had brought with them. Into this Ben was plunged, and rolled over and over until he looked more like an unsightly feathered creature than a human being. He was then made to stand on his feet for general inspection. The men shouted with laughter at the ludicrous spectacle he presented, and all kinds of uncomplimentary remarks were made.
”Who's your tailor?” asked one.
”Is that the latest fas.h.i.+on?” questioned another.
Presently Jake raised his hand, and the babel of tongues ceased.
”Now, look here, Ben,” he began, ”this is a nasty job, I know. But it was comin' to ye, an' it had to be done sooner or later. Ye were altogether too fresh an' there was no livin' in the parish with ye.
This is jist a warnin' to you an' all connected with ye, that the men of Rixton won't stand no more tom-foolery. We're going to take things in our own hands after this, an' we're not goin' to allow you nor ye'r father nor anybody else to treat us like a bunch of d.a.m.n curs. Isn't that so, boys?”
”Hear, hear!” came from all. ”Give him h.e.l.l, Jake.”
”An' look here, Ben,” he continued, ”we've all heard what ye done to Jean Benton at Long Wharf. By the great jumpin' punkin! I kin hardly keep me hands off ye'r measley body fer doin' that to a woman, an' her nuthin' but a girl. Now we're goin' to give ye a dose of ye'r own medicine, an' as ye dumped Jean into the harbour, you ye'rself can jist flop around in that frog pond, an' see how it feels. Come on, boys.”