d over a block of wood and went crashing head first among
a pile of pots and pans and, still unable to recover himself and wildly
grasping whatever chanced to be within reach, fell upon the board that
stood against the corner of the porch to direct the rain into the tub;
but the unstable board slid slowly down and allowed the unfortunate
Perkins to come sitting in the tub full of water.

"Very neatly done, Perkins!" cried Cameron, whose anger at the furious
attack was suddenly transformed into an ecstasy of delight at seeing the
plight of his enemy.

Like a cat Perkins was on his feet and, without a single moment's pause,
came on again in silent fury. By an evil chance there lay in his path
the splitting axe, gleaming in the moonlight. Uttering a low choking
cry, as of joy, he seized the axe and sprang towards his foe. Quicker
than thought Cameron picked up a heavy arm chair that stood near the
porch to use it as a shield against the impending attack.

"Are you mad, Perkins?" he cried, catching the terrific blow that came
crashing down, upon the chair.

Then, filled with indignant rage at the murderous attack upon him, and
suddenly comprehending the desperate nature of the situation, he sprang
at his antagonist, thrusting the remnants of the chair in his face and,
following hard and fast upon him, pushed him backward and still backward
till, tripping once more, he fell supine among the pots and pans.
Seizing the axe that had dropped from his enemy's hand, Cameron hurled
it far beyond the wood pile and then stood waiting, a cold and deadly
rage possessing him.

"Come on, you dog!" he said through his shut teeth. "You have been
needing this for some time and now you'll get it."

"What is it, Joe?"

Cameron quickly turned and saw behind him Mandy, her face blanched, her
eyes wide, and her voice faint with terror.

"Oh, nothing much," said Cameron, struggling to recover himself.
"Perkins stumbled over the tub among the pots and pans there. He made
a great row, too," he continued with a laugh, striving to get his voice
under control.

"What is it, Joe?" repeated Mandy, approaching Perkins. But Perkins
stood leaning against the corner of the porch in a kind of dazed
silence.

"You've been fighting," she said, turning upon Cameron.

"Not at all," said Cameron lightly, "but, if you must know, Perkins went
stumbling among these pots and pans and finally sat down in the tub; and
naturally he is mad."

"Is that tru