the left, at the same
time yelling at the boy to get out of the way.

Taken by surprise, Rod sprang into the ditch for safety, dropping his
basket in his fright, which rolled beneath the horses' feet. This so
startled the nervous animals that they leaped quickly forward, and
swerved to the right, thus bringing the hind wheel of the wagon against
the sharp ends of a pile of cordwood near the road. There was a crash
as two of the spokes were ripped from the hub by the impact, while the
wood came tumbling down into the road.

With much difficulty Tom checked the horses, and then wild with rage,
he turned upon the innocent lad, charging him with having frightened
his team.

"I didn't," Rod sturdily replied, coming close to the wagon, his eyes
flaming with indignation. "You tried to drive over me, that's what you
did."

"How dare ye answer me!" Tom cried, white with wrath. "Ye young
villain, ye're nothin' but a pauper, an' should be in the Poor House,
instead of livin' with decent people. Ye don't know who yer father an'
mother are, do ye? An' no one else does, fer that matter. Ye wouldn't
own 'em if ye did."

Rod stood for an instant as if turned to stone. The flush left his
cheeks, and his face grew very white. Then his small brown hands
clenched hard, and he took a step closer to the wagon.

"You lie!" he shouted. "How dare you say that!"

With a roar Tom clutched the handle of his whip, and the lash suddenly
cut the air with a swish. It circled Rod's shoulders, sharply flicking
his face, leaving a crimson streak upon the white left cheek.

The lash had scarcely fallen ere a big form hurled itself from the
store platform, and bounded along the road. It was Captain Josh who
had been an interested spectator of all that had taken place. His eyes
gleamed with a dangerous light, and the heavy stick in his right hand
struck the ground harder than usual as he strode up to the wagon.

"Ye coward!" he roared, coming between Rod and the irate teamster.
"How dare ye strike a little lad like that!"

"He scared me horses on purpose, an' then sassed me," was the surly
answer.

"None of yer lyin', Tom Dunker," said the captain laid his left hand
upon the top of the side-board, and shook it vehemently. "I saw the
whole affair, and don't ye try any of yer lies on me."

"What business is it of yourn, anyway, Josh Britt? It ain't your
funeral, is it? You git out of this, an' leave me alone!"

"Not my funeral