He met the rush staunchly. To his own
surprise his wild swings landed with amazing precision and the most
gratifying effect. Two of his assailants reeled away under the savage
impact of his blows. A stone, hurled by one of the young ruffians,
struck him on the shoulder; another reached his face with a cutting
blow of the fist. He felt the hot blood trickling down his cheek. But
he stood squarely in front of the hunchback, his fists swinging like
mad, half of his blows failing to land on the person of any one of his
crowding, cursing adversaries.
Suddenly a new element entered into the one-sided conflict. A
whirlwind figure dashed out of an alley hard by and came crashing into
the thick of the fray.
"Dick! Dick!" shrieked the cowering cripple, the fiercest glee in his
shrill voice.
"Always on hand," sang out the newcomer, slashing out right and left.
"Old Nick-o'-time, my lads. So you'd jump on a cripple, would you?
Here's a Christmas gift for you, you hayseed!"
Singing glibly after this fashion, the tall recruit laid about him
with devastating effect. Three of the surprised town boys were
sprawling on the ground; another was trying to scale the fence ahead
of an expected boot-toe; the fifth was being soundly polished off by
the exhilarated David.
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