THE RIOT 251 



trouble. I can make some allowance when I 

 remember the bad whiskey that is in you, but 

 you must get out of our way ; the road is pub- 

 lic and we have the right to use it." 



"Not until you have paid toll," said the Hun. 



" That's the rooster who said we drank whis- 

 key and didn't work. He's the fellow who 

 would rob a poor man of his liberty," came a 

 voice in the crowd. 



" Knock his block off ! " 



" Break his back ! " 



" Let me at him," and a score of other friendly 

 offers came from the drunken crowd. 



Jack stood steadily looking at the ruffians, his 

 blue eyes growing black with excitement and his 

 hands clenched tightly in the pockets of his reefer. 



" Slowly, men, slowly," said he. " If you 

 want me, you may have me. There are ladies 

 in the carriage ; let them go on ; I'll stay with 

 you as long as you like. You are brave men, 

 and you have no quarrel with ladies." 



" Ladies, eh ! " said the Hun, " ladies ! I never 

 saw anything but women. Let's have a look at 

 them, boys." 



This speech was drunkenly approved, and the 

 men pressed forward. Jack stood firm, his face 

 was white, but his eyes flamed. 



"Stand off! There are good men who will 

 die for those ladies, and it will go hard but bad 

 men shall die first." 



The Hun disregarded the warning. 



