" More than once had the
strong, straight Virginian gazed with a certain pity upon the pale-
faced cripple. He had been struck by the look of patient suffering in
the boy's face.
But now that look was gone. The hunchback, who could have been no more
than fifteen, was convulsed by rage. He was showing his teeth like a
vicious dog. The most appalling flow of profanity came shrieking
through his white lips. David was shocked. Never in all his life had
he heard such unspeakable names as those which the tormented boy was
screaming back at his tantalizers.
Suddenly he spat upon the biggest of his scoffers, following the act
with a name so vile that the other leaped forward and struck him a
heavy blow in the face.
This was too much for David. He dashed in and planted a stinging
right-hander on the jaw of the enraged bully, sending him to the
ground beside the hunchback, who was writhing there with blood on his
lips.
For a second or two the fellow's companions, four in number, stood
undecided. Then, with one accord, they rushed at David Jenison.
The Virginian was not skilled in the art of self-defense, but he was
brave and cool and strong.
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