THE RIOT 257 
carriage. Jarvis’s face was covered with blood, 
and Jack’s neck and shoulders were drenched, — 
his wound had bled freely. Lars had relieved 
the ladies on the box after administering kicks 
and blows in generous measure to the dazed and 
crippled miners, who were crawling off the road 
or staggering along it. The Swede had a strain 
of fierce North blood which was not easily laid 
when once aroused, and he glared around the 
battle-field, hoping to find signs of resistance. 
When none were to be seen, he donned his 
coachman’s coat and sat the box like a sphinx. 
The girls went quickly forward to meet the 
men. They said little, but they put their hands ~ 
on their battered champions in a way to make 
the heart of man glad. The men were flushed 
and proud, as men have been, and men will be, 
through all time, when they have striven sav- 
agely against other savages in the sight of their 
mistresses, and have gained the victory. Their 
bruises were numb with exultation and their 
wounds dumb with pride. There was no regret 
for blows given or received, ——no sympathy for 
fallen foe. The male fights, in the presence of 
the female, with savage delight, from the lowest 
to the highest ranks of creation, and we must 
forgive our boys for some cruel exultation as they 
looked on the field of strife. Better feelings will 
come when the blood flows less rapidly in their 
veins ! 
“ We must hurry home,” said Jane, “and let 
6 
