A Gentleman of Courage

houghts been away from his father. Even when Mona's dark eyes were smiling at him and her sweet voice was talking to him, his father's white and hunted face was a vision that never quite faded out of

ng and fighting to hide his grief. The tragedy in her own life, and a sorrow which had been deeper and more pitiless

terrible thing had happened in[116] the sea. No one, not even Pierre Gourdon, knew how vividly those hours and days came back to her at times. The forest and the wild things shar

It crept into him and became a part of him, and even Pierre Gourdon would have found it difficult to explain what was born in their hearts in those moments when Peter looked at the big stone into whic

n of the bridge which spans the illusive way between boy and man. He had lost his father. But his father was not dead, while Mona's was gone forever. Out of the chaos in his mind th

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t was sufficient for him to know that she was praying for calamity to fall upon his head. She wanted the crows to pull his

ter's son had thrust Mona's head back brutally in the edge of the forest, with his big, coarse hands fastened in her hair

r until he came to the end of the finger of evergreens that reached almost to the inlet. His heart gave a jump when he saw Aleck on the tug shooting at the flying gulls with a slung-shot. Peter had made up his mind to challenge his enemy calmly an

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e was almost as big as Jame Clamart, and his face was red with an exultant passion as he advanced, stuffing the slung-shot into one of his p

crashing like a big animal behind him. Twice he allowed his enemy to come almost within reach of him, and then spurted ahead. At

ked derisively. "Ru

aught him, and Peter tried bravely to live up to the rule. A fixed grin was on his face. "I'm going to lick you," he announced cheerfully

face him with such monumental[119] nerve. The bully in him was maddened by Peter's next insult. "You're nothing but a girl

llowed anathema as he began to swing his heavy arms. Peter reached his nose and one eye and his mouth. He was like a hornet. His two small fists were swiftly moving hammers, and Aleck had never experienced anything like the hail of thei

ng against a mass of dull and stupid flesh that had but few nerves to be shocked into submission. His blows began to carry less force, and he was compelled to breathe with his mouth open. He[120] gave Aleck one last slashing cut in the mouth and then his strength seemed to break. His enemy's arms tightened around him and they went down

Then Aleck began to pommel, weighti

he managed to g

ted all his effort in shielding his face. Aleck was like a porpoise, and every half-minute or so was compelled to cease his jabbing t

ck. "I'm a windbag, eh? A girl-beater, am I? Take that, an' that, an' tha

[121] swelling. One eye, he knew was entirely shut. The other he saved by shielding it against his arm. His thoughts were growing a little hazy, too, but a

in' to have her come and see what I've done to

I'm going to make you say you're licked or I'll beat your head off," Aleck told him. And then he sat up straight, his heavy bulk astride Peter's slim body, and called Mona's name again. Peter's brain went hot. Was

with his one good eye. A thrill shot through him when he found the weakness had left his arms. He was breathing easily,

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pected that Aleck lost his balance with Mona's name half out of his mouth, and the other half never came. He fell sprawling, and Peter was upon him again like a cat. Aleck's face was his target, and he beat it-fast, furious and hard. He was

arter. But Peter's momentum was too great to be stopped on such short notice. He continued, until in the

rt stopped dead in his body for a single moment. Not ten feet away from him stood Mona! Even with his fading vision he saw the wild flush in he

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up!" he said. "Get up o

His eyes were little slits. His face was swollen until it looked as though he had the mu

demanded Peter, co

a shielding hand. "I guess

n if you aren't sure-I'l

t eno

me the sl

ment he caught a dim vision of Mona. He

bother her any more. Promi

romi

throw stones

N

ow go on back to the

his business done, he turned toward Mona. A little shyly, with shi

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andkerchief at his face, just as he had felt it that first day in

the world on which Peter stood. Raising herself on tipto

s wanted all the time, and I'm givi

said Peter.