ay they did
now, like broken steel; not one of them would have imagined that those
almost boyish features could set in such stern, grim lines as they fell
into while he waited for the much and long desired interview with the
rascal who had tried to rob him of his children.

Major Dene stood and watched until Perry and her charges had turned up a
side street that would take them straight to Westfield. Then grasping
his tough Malacca firmly in his supple fingers, he strode swiftly
forward to face the foe.

As he came close to the mob of people around the performers there arose
a hoarse shout, mingled with shrill screams and piercing cries. Then the
crowd surged, broke, scattered, and fled hither and thither in panic,
until, in an incredibly short time, there were only about half a dozen
who stood their ground to watch the closing scene in the final
exhibition given by the remaining members of the old Satellite Circus
Company.

It was, in truth, a gruesome spectacle! A huge beast--maddened to fury
by the sharp lashes of a stinging whip, blinded by the blows that had
fallen thick and fast about his head and ears, goaded by the memory of
years of cruelty and brutality--crushing to death in his hairy embrace
his tormentor, as together they rolled over and over in the thick white
dust of the village street, not a sound breaking the awesome silence but
the fierce, deep growling of the savage bear and the wild, hysterical
weeping of a terrified woman.

For one brief, breathless moment Major Dene held back, gazing in horror
at the unequal combat. Then, forgetting everything except that there on
the ground before him was a fellow-creature in dire need of help, he
sprang to the rescue. With one hand he tried to drag the brute off its
victim by the leather collar that encircled its neck, while with the
cane, which he still held in the other hand, he belaboured it smartly
about the snout and eyes. Fired by one man's courage, several others
came to his assistance, and among them they at length succeeded in
securing Bruno. But not before his thirst for revenge was satisfied; for
when Joe Harris was lifted and laid gently down upon the soft greensward
alongside the sea, one glance was sufficient to show the medical man,
who was quickly on the spot, that he was beyond the reach of human aid.

Yea, verily, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

* * * * *

"Couldn't we help poor Mrs. Mol