ound.

"Hello, Cameron!" drawled Perkins. "Did you see our cows? I thought I
heard some of them down the line."

For answer Cameron launched himself at him like a bolt from a bow. There
was a single sharp crack and Perkins was literally lifted clear off his
feet and hurled back upon the road, where he lay still. Fiercely Cameron
faced round to the next man, but he gave back quickly. A third sprang
to throw himself upon Cameron, but once more Cameron's hand shot forward
and his assailant was hurled back heavily into the arms of his friends.
Before Cameron could strike again a young giant, known as Sam Sailor,
flung his arms about him, crying--

"Tut-tut, young fellow, this won't do, you know. Can't you take a bit of
fun?"

For answer Cameron clinched him savagely, gripping him by the throat and
planting two heavy blows upon his ribs.

"Here--boys," gasped the young fellow,
"he's--chokin'--the--life--out--of me."

From all sides they threw themselves upon him and, striking, kicking,
fighting furiously, Cameron went down under the struggling mass, his
hand still gripping the throat it had seized.

"Say! He's a regular bull-dog," cried one. "Git hold of his legs and
yank him off," which, with shouts and laughter, they proceeded to do and
piled themselves upon him, chanting the refrain--"More beef! More beef!"

A few minutes more of frantic struggling and a wild agonised scream rose
from beneath the mass of men.

"Git off, boys! Git off!" roared the young giant. "I'm afraid he's
hurt."

Flinging them off on either side, he stood up and waited for their
victim to rise. But Cameron lay on his face, moaning and writhing, on
the ground.

"Say, boys," said Sam, kneeling down beside him, "I'm afraid he's hurted
bad."

In his writhing Cameron lifted one leg. It toppled over to one side.

"Jumpin' Jeremiah!" said Sam in an awed voice. "His leg's broke! What in
Sam Hill can we do?"

As he spoke there was a sound of running feet, coming down the lane.
The moon, shining through the breaking clouds, revealed a figure with
floating garments rapidly approaching.

"My cats!" cried Sam in a terrified voice. "It's Mandy."

Like leaves before a sudden gust of wind the group scattered and only
Sam was left.

"What--what are you doin'?" panted Mandy. "Where is he? Oh, is that
him?" She flung herself down in the dust beside Cameron and turned him
over. His face was white, his eyes glazed. He looked like death. "Oh!
Oh!" s