a warnin' to you an' all connected with ye, that the men
of Rixton won't stand no more tom-foolery. We're going to take things
in our own hands after this, an' we're not goin' to allow you nor ye'r
father nor anybody else to treat us like a bunch of damn curs. Isn't
that so, boys?"

"Hear, hear!" came from all. "Give him hell, Jake."

"An' look here, Ben," he continued, "we've all heard what ye done to
Jean Benton at Long Wharf. By the great jumpin' punkin! I kin hardly
keep me hands off ye'r measley body fer doin' that to a woman, an' her
nuthin' but a girl. Now we're goin' to give ye a dose of ye'r own
medicine, an' as ye dumped Jean into the harbour, you ye'rself can jist
flop around in that frog pond, an' see how it feels. Come on, boys."

As Ben was seized and lifted from the ground, he shrieked and begged
for mercy.

"Don't drown me! don't drown me!" he yelled. "For God's sake don't----"

His cries were cut short by the water which closed over his head as he
went down on his back beneath the leaves, spawn and slime. He came up
like a cork, choking and sputtering, and started to wade to the shore
as the water was only up to his arm-pits. But as he attempted to
scramble out, he was pushed back and forced to stand in his wretched
plight for several minutes. At length he was allowed to leave the
pond, and with teeth chattering with cold and fear, he was told to
dress himself as quickly as possible.

Mud and slime mingling with the drenched feathers and tar made him look
more grotesque than ever as he struggled into his clothes.

"Now clear out," Jake ordered, when Ben was at last dressed, "an' thank
ye'r stars that we didn't skin ye alive."

Ben waited for no second bidding, but darted away and ran as he had
never run in his life, followed by the shouts, jeers and laughter of
the crowd.

The men were now in a dangerous mood and ready for any mischief. The
fire of pent-up passion had at last burst forth, and the mob spirit was
upon them.

"Squire Hawkins," shouted some one. "Let's give him a dose."

"The Squire, the Squire," passed from mouth to mouth. "His turn next."

What would have happened is hard to tell, had not Douglas at that
instant stepped forward. His sudden appearance arrested the men, and
they at once stopped their clamour to hear what he had to say.

"I wouldn't do anything more to-night, men," he advised. "You are
greatly excited now, and if you are not careful you might d