A hunter's mfe 189 



across the bridge, and carried rae safely to the other side, 

 entirely out of their reach. 



Shauiic n called to me to stop till he would give me a 

 whipping ; but I told him that he was a blackguard, and 

 that I was not coming back to let him and those around 

 him beat me as they pleased ; that I believed he was not 

 able in a fair fight to whip me ; and that I knew, and they 

 knew, there was not a man among them who would dare 

 to attempt it, unless they could have two or three on me 

 at the same time. 



But when they saw that I understood what they were 

 at, they fell on the McMullens. I immediately jumped 

 off my horse, and ran in, when I found that John had 

 been knocked down with a club. I raised him to his feet, 

 and hearing a great fuss in the crowd, I went in, beating 

 my way with my fist. Thomas was down, and all hands 

 were pelting him with their fists. I soon knocked them 

 in every direction, till 1 got him up, and ready for action 

 again. Many passes were made at me, but the cowards 

 would run as soon as they struck. After I had set Tom 

 upon his feet, I knocked one fellow down, and as I looked 

 around, another struck at me. I threw off his blow, re- 

 turned it, and at it we went. He fended off very well, 

 when, finding that I was doing nothing, I sprang at him, 

 caught him, and threw him on the saw-mill. As quick as 

 thought, he slipped himself through an open place, and 

 down we both went. We were no sooner down than a 

 dozen more were around us ; and let me turn my face 

 which way I would, it met somebody's fist. But I kept 

 striking till I hit one chap on the loins, and down he 

 went. I saw that his head was black, and I knew he wa? 

 not the man I fell through the mill with, for he had a red 

 head ; but I saw no more of red-head that day. 



Then they fell on me so fast, that I thought I would 

 Dot contend any longer, but say that I had enough. It 



