ameron sprang towards the fence.
Instantly there was a sound of running feet through the plowed field on
the other side, then silence.

"Come back, you cowards!" raged Cameron. "Isn't there a man among you?"

For answer a clod came hurtling through the dark and struck with a thud
upon the fence. Immediately, as if at a signal, there fell about Cameron
a perfect hail of clods and even stones.

"Oh! Oh!" shrieked Mandy, rushing towards him and throwing herself
between him and the falling missiles. "Come away! Come away! They'll
just kill you."

For answer Cameron put his arms about her and drew her behind him,
shielding her as best he could with his body.

"Do you want to kill a woman?" he called aloud.

At once the hail of clods ceased and, raging as he was, Mandy dragged
him homeward. At the door of the house he made to turn back.

"Not much, you don't," said Mandy, stoutly, "or I go with you."

"Oh, all right," said Cameron, "let them go. They are only a lot of
curs, anyway."

For a few minutes they stood and talked in the kitchen, Cameron making
light of the incident and making strenuous efforts to dissemble the rage
that filled his soul. After a few minutes conversation Cameron announced
his intention of going to bed, while Mandy passed upstairs. He left the
house and stole down the lane toward the road. The throbbing pain in his
head was forgotten in the blind rage that possessed him. He had only one
longing, to stand within striking distance of the cowardly curs, only
one fear, that they should escape him. Swiftly, silently, he stole down
the lane, every nerve, every muscle tense as a steel spring. His throat
was hot, his eyes so dazzled that he could scarcely see; his breath came
in quick gasps; his hands were trembling as with a nervous chill. The
storm had partially blown away. It had become so light that he could
dimly discern a number of figures at the entrance to the lane. Having
his quarry in sight, Cameron crouched in the fence corner, holding hard
by the rail till he should become master of himself. He could hear their
explosions of suppressed laughter. It was some minutes before he had
himself in hand, then with a swift silent run he stood among them.
So busy were they in recounting the various incidents in the recent
"chivaree," that before they were aware Cameron was upon them. At his
approach the circle broke and scattered, some flying to the fence. But
Perkins with some others stood their gr