peculiarly unpleasant situation.
Thunder was still storming inside, and presently he reappeared, and
hurled an armful of shirts, boots, trousers and other human habiliments
into the air. These were the belongings of Nicholas Crips.

The people of Catcat maintained a respectful distance, not knowing for
certain what so formidable an animal might do next.

"Better mind out," said one youth; "he bites! He bit the bloke inside.
Didn't yeh 'ear him say?"

On the whole the attitude towards the Missing Link was hostile. It was
felt that here was a dangerous brute at large. Several armed themselves
with stones and sticks. Inside Professor Thunder was still raving to
drown Madame's rational arguments. Twice he burst into the open with
fresh invectives for Nickie, and some trifling piece of dress or property
to hurl at him; but Madame Marve and the Living Skeleton hung on his
coat-tails and dragged him back.

Nickie had a thought of lifting his mask and letting his humanity be
known to the crowd, but there were many present who had paid to see the
show, and these might take it into their heads to resent the imposition.
Besides, Professor Thunder might relent. On the whole, it seemed better
to await developments. Crouched against the tree, the Missing Link
glowered at the people. If they came too near, he bared his fangs and
growled ominously, and the venturesome ones backed away precipitately.

Somebody threw a clod of earth, and it smote Mahdi on the side of the
head. The Missing Link sprang towards the crowd with a fearful cry. His
antics were most alarming. The people ran, but they edged back again, and
another clod thrown. Then came a stone. A second stone hit Nickie on the
shin, and with a yell of pain he took cover behind the butt.

There was a burst of laughter from the crowd, and a rush for stones.
Missiles fell about Nickie in a shower. Suddenly the situation had
assumed a dangerous complexion. The crowd opened in a circle to get at
the monster; stones rattled about his head.

With a horse cry, with eyes rolling and teeth bared in a shocking
grimace, the Missing Link dashed at the spot where the circle was
weakest, broke through, and went bounding up the township's single
street.

Believing now that the great monkey was afraid, the crowd trooped after
him, yelling as they ran, snatching up stones and other missiles from the
road. Terror lent wings to the Missing Link. He raced up the dusty road
in the white heat