Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-17
CHAPTER XVI.
Colored Troops In Action.


who hight In the good old English
way" according to model set foi
fights In books long before Tom Brown
went to Rugby.
There are seconds and rounds and
rules Of fair play, and always there Is
great good feeling in the end-thougt
sometimes, to vary the model, 1.-The
butcher defeats the hero-and the
chronicler who stencils this fine old
pattern on his page is certain Of ap
plause as the stirrer Of "red blood.
There Is no surer recipe.
But when Herman and Verman sci
tot the record must be no more than
a few fragments left by the expurga
tor. 1t has been perhaps sufficiently
suggested that the alteration in Mr.
Schofield's stable opened with mayhem
In respect to the aggressors nose. Ex
pressing vocally his indignation and
the extremity Of his panied surprise
Mr.. Collins stepped backward, holding
his left hand over his nose and strik
ing at Herman with his right. Then
verman hit him with the rake.
Verman struck from behind. He struck
as hard as he could. And he struck
with the tines down. For, In his sim
pie, direct African way he wished to
kill his enemy, and he wished to kill
him as soon as possible. That was his
single, earnest purpose.
On this account, Rupe Collins was
peculiarly unfortunate. He. was plucky
and he enjoyed conflict, but neither his
ambitions nor his anticipations had
ever included murder. He had not
learned that an habitually aggressive
person runs the danger Of collidine
with beings in one Of those lower
stages of evolution wherein theories
about hitting below the belt" have
not yet made their appearance.
The rake glanced from the back OF
RUPEES head to his shoulder, but it fell
ed him. Both darkies jumped full upon
him instantly, and the three rolled and
twisted upon the stable floor, unloosing
upon the air sincere maledictions close
ly connected with complaints Of crue
and unusual treatment, while certain
expressions Of feeling presently ema
mating from Herman and Verman indi
Gated that Rupe Collins, in this ex
tremity. was proving himself not tot
slavishly addicted to fighting by RUE
Dan and Duke. mistaking all for mirth
barked gayly.
From the painting, pounding, yelling
heap issued words and phrases hither
to quite unknown to Penrod and Sam
also hoarse repetition In the voice
Of Rupe concerning his ear left 1t no
to be doubted that additional mayhem
was taking place. Appalled,, the two
spectators retreated to the doorway
nearest the yard. where they stOOt
dumbly watching the cataclysm.
The struggle increased in primitive
simplicity. Time and again the howl
ing Rupe got to his knees, only to g
down again as the earnest brothers II
their own way assisted him to more
reclining position. Primal forces Op
Grated here, and the two blanched
slightly higher products Of evolution
Sam and Penrod, no more thought O.
interfering than they would hav'
thought Of interfering with an earth
quake.
At last out Of the ruck rose verman
disfigured and maniacal. With wilt
eye he looked about him for his trust!
rake, but Penrod in horror had loni
since thrown the rake out into th'
yard. Naturally it had not seemet
necessary to remove the lawn mower
The frantic eye Of Verman fell upol
the lawn mower, and instantly b.
leaped to its handle. Shrilling word
less warcry, he charged, propelling tn
whirling, deafening knives straigh
upon the prone legs Of Rupe Collins
The lawn mower was sincerely intend
ed to pass longitudinally over the bod,
Of Mr.. Collins from heel to head, an
it was the time for death song
Black Valkyrie hovered in the shrek
ing air.
"Cut his gizzud outv' shrieked Her
man, urging on the whirling knives.
They touched and lacerated tn
shin Of Rupe, as, with the suprem
agony Of effort creature in morta
peril puts forth before succumbing, b
tore himself free Of Herman and 90
upon his feet.
Herman was up as quickly. 81
leaped to the wall and seized the gal
den scythe that hung there.
I'm go cut you gizzud out" he ar
nOunced definitely. IAN eat it!'
Rupe Collins had never run froI
anybody except his father In his lift
He was not a coward, but the presen
situation was very, very unusual. Fl
was already in a badly dismantle
condition, and yet Herman and Vel
man seemed discontented with thei
work. Verman was swinging the gras
cutter about for new charge, appal
emily still wishing to NOW him, an
Herman had made a quite plausibl
statement about what he intended {
do with the scythe.
Rupe paused but fof an extremel
condensed survey Of the horrible az
vance of the brothers and then, utte.
ing a blood curdlod scream Of fea
ran out of the stable and up the ale
at a speed he had never before a
tanned, so that even Dan had har
work to keep within barking distance
And a cross shoulder glance at the co
ner revealing Verman and Herman
pursuit. the latter waving his scyth
overhead, Mr.. Collins slackened not b
gait, but rather. out Of great anguisl
increased II, the while a rapidly deve
oping purpose became firm In his mir
and ever after 30 remaiped not on
to refrain from visiting that neighbo
hood again, but never by any chan
to come within a mile Of It
i From the alley door Penrod and Sal
watched the flight and were w3tho'
words. When the pursuit rounded Il
corner the two looked wanly at ear
other, but neither spoke until the =
turn Of the brothers from the chase
| Herman and Verman came pae
Laughing and chpcknak