his men followed, and many camp meeting folks were
knocked down and bruised.

If it had not been for John Larkin, "the square man," the mob might
have won. In the midst of all the excitement and noise he remained calm
and wise. He had helped in resisting the attack in front, when,
glancing to the right, he saw the monster dwarf approaching, knocking
the people about with his long and powerful arms. Larkin put himself in
his way, and as he got nearer said:

"Are you monkey, man, or devil, or the three combined? Whoever you are,
you must reckon with me."

"I'm de man who can whip ary sneakin' braggin' preacher on dis ground.
Dat's my holt," replied Turner.

With this he threw himself upon Larkin, and they were clasped in a
close embrace. The monster dwarf gripped the preacher's body in his
terrible arms with a strength like that of a grizzly bear, and it
seemed to Larkin as though his ribs would crack and his breath leave
him. But while the dwarf's arms were abnormally strong, his legs were
weak, whereas Larkin's limbs were as sturdy as an oak tree. Besides, in
his school days he had learned several wrestling tricks, and now he
used one to throw Turner to the ground. There they continued to
struggle for some time, the friends of each trying to help him. But by
this time the mob in the other quarter had been subdued; and Jasper
Very coming to the rescue of his colleague, the monster dwarf was
conquered and several of his aids subdued and captured.

All the prisoners were sent to the county seat, and placed in jail,
there to await their trial before the criminal court over which Judge
LeMonde presided.

CHAPTER VI.

Under the Pine Trees.

Judge William LeMonde lived about three miles from the camp ground we
have described. He was the richest man in his township, his farm
consisting of one thousand acres stretching from the Cumberland River
back to some high hills about one mile distant. That part lying on the
river was like a garden of the Lord for richness of soil. In this land
Indian corn, tobacco, cabbage, and potatoes grew to perfection. Midway
between the river and the high hills was a narrow ridge which ran
parallel with the river. This natural backbone of land reached its
greatest height on Mr. LeMonde's farm. But the highest point of all had
been increased in size by artificial means. In prehistoric times a race
of people living in this region had added earth to this hill until they
had made an al