Our Fellows

rightened, but h

courage, “you had better not try to hurt any body with that

upon something for the fall he had received, and not daring to molest either the ladies or Mark, he charge

enraged at the Indian’s attempts to injure his favorites. “Say 30t

. “Don’t make him angry, and perha

s he can be alrea

but the robber crawled after them and drove them out. They were too well trained to take hold of him without the word from their master; but they grew angrier every minute, and f

elling furiously, prepared to follow the dogs in

he sprang up 31the steps into the midst of the women; and Mark, believing th

im down, fellow

of them turned and sprang at his throat; the other seized him by the shoulder from be

rasp and he lay like a log upon the porch. He was so still, and the blood flowed so freely from the numerous wounds he had received, that Mark became frightened and spo

e found 32himself free from the

osition and gazed about for a moment with a bewildered air, and then jumped to his feet, boun

r may have been that Indian’s claims to courage, he could certa

ou done?” chorused all the visi

done,” was the cool reply. “I am the only man about th

injury? He will have revenge for that. He will come b

said Mark, shaking his head in a very threatening manner. “I’ll take Rock and

erfect right to grumble at any one, from her master down to the smallest pickaninny on the plantation. Having recovered from her fright, she was scolding at an ala

s, he walked off whistling to drown the clatter of the cook’s t

boy. He’s boun’ to be de

t Martha had recovered her good nature, and sought to restore herself to favor by stepping down from her high p

lence reigned in the Indian camp. Not a yell, or a song, or even the bark of a dog ca

he savage coming back with re-enforcements, he kept his eye turned in the direction

be intensely excited about something. He breathed hard after his rapid run, his eyes had 35a wild look in them, and he was in s

tongue, and Mark could not understand that. Reaching the fence, he cleared it at a

white boy! mil-l

ark by the arm, and tried t

his jacket; “do you want to wrestle? If you

avage, jumping back, and vehemently

erstand that jargon. What do you want me to do? If you haven’t com

ed Jim. “You run away, quick.

t. They were all stripped to the waist, daubed with paint, wore feathers in their hair, carried knives and hatchets in their hands, and altogether their appearance was enough to frighten any boy who

that was what he always said when he was astonis

so excited and terrified that he could scar

h him toward the house. “This is my father’s plantation. I’ve more right here th

d there they stopped to listen to a speech from their leader, who emphasized his

tell those fellows that if they know when they

o seemed to be greatly distressed on

en times that if you don’t want to wrestle you had better keep your hands away fr

ike a flask, and, perching himself upon the fence, began a speech. He threw his arms wildly

ted. They listened respectfully, no doubt, because the speaker was the son of their chief, only in

or of the shop, keeping his eye on the savages, and stooping down occasionally to caress his hounds, and becoming enraged at his coolness, again raised th

say to those men that I am tired of waiting. Tell them that

listened attentively for awhile, as before, but his eloquence seemed to make but very little impression upon t

he added, pushing back the young Indian, who once more tried to pull him toward the house. “I am just in the right humor for a wrest

, started back through the cotton-field toward the camp. When they disappeared in the woods, Mark drew a long breath of relief, and turned to Jim, who stood looking at him with every expression of wond

fraid?” h

feel grateful to you, Jim, for the interest you seem to take in my welfare, and I assure you that I shall alwa

, believing, no doubt, that he possessed strength and activity in the same proportion, thought 41it best to keep out of his reac

Tell them that if they will take my advice they will leave this plantation with as little delay as possible. I shall ride through th

t extent, spreading out his fingers like the claws of some wild animal, and assuming a most ferocious expr

I prepared to say how Jim interpreted 42it; but I do know that he started for the camp with all p

to be seen. The warriors, squaws, pappooses, dogs and all had left for parts unknown. Father laughed when mother told him what had happened during our a

he had taken to his heels the Indians would have pursued him, and there was no knowing what they migh

gin was set on fire, and 43the moccasin tracks in the mud showed who did it. We had a lively time hunting up t