Ye don't know who yer father an'
mother are, do ye? An' no one else does, fer that matter. Ye wouldn't
own 'em if ye did."
Rod stood for an instant as if turned to stone. The flush left his
cheeks, and his face grew very white. Then his small brown hands
clenched hard, and he took a step closer to the wagon.
"You lie!" he shouted. "How dare you say that!"
With a roar Tom clutched the handle of his whip, and the lash suddenly
cut the air with a swish. It circled Rod's shoulders, sharply flicking
his face, leaving a crimson streak upon the white left cheek.
The lash had scarcely fallen ere a big form hurled itself from the
store platform, and bounded along the road. It was Captain Josh who
had been an interested spectator of all that had taken place. His eyes
gleamed with a dangerous light, and the heavy stick in his right hand
struck the ground harder than usual as he strode up to the wagon.
"Ye coward!" he roared, coming between Rod and the irate teamster.
"How dare ye strike a little lad like that!"
"He scared me horses on purpose, an' then sassed me," was the surly
answer.
"None of yer lyin', Tom Dunker," said the captain laid his left hand
upon the top of the side-board, and shook it vehemently.
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