all that there was a look of some pride on his face. At that moment Mr. Picton Smith was not sorry to have Hugh John for a son. "Well," said Priscilla, who had no such scruples[39] as to telling on her enemies, "I won't tell if you say not. But that was the boy who hurt Donald the worst." [39] "Well, I smashed him for that!" muttered Napoleon Smith. "And then when Hugh John saw them dragging Donald away and heard him bleating——" "And 'kye-kying' big, big tears, big as cherries!" interjected Toady Lion, who considered every narrative incomplete to which he did not contribute. "He was overcome with rage and anger"—at this point Priscilla began to talk by the book, the dignity of the epic tale working on her—"and he rushed upon them fearlessly, though they were ten to one; and they all struck him and kicked him. But Hugh John fought like a lion." "Yes, like Wichard Toady Lion," cried the namesake of that hero, "and I helpted him and bited a bad boy on the leg, and didn't let go though he kicked and hurted feeful! Yes, indeedy!" "And I went to their assistance and fought as Hugh John showed me. And—I forget the rest," said Priscilla, her epic style suddenly failing her. Also she felt she must begin to cry very soon, now the strain was over. So she made haste to finish. "But it was dreadful, and they swore, and said they would cut Donald's throat. And one boy took out a great knife and said he knew how to do it. He was the butch——" "Shut up, Pris! Now don't you dare!" shouted Hugh John, in his most warning tones. [40] [40] "And when Hugh John rushed in to stop him, he hit him over the head with a stick, and Hugh John fell down. And, oh! I thought he was dead, and I didn't know what to do" (Priscilla was crying in good earnest now); "and I ran to him and tried to lift him up. But I could not—he was so wobbly and soft." "I bited the boy's leg. It was dood. I bited hard!" interrupted Toady Lion, whose mission had been vengeance. "And when I looked up again they had taken away p-p-poor Donald," Priscilla went on spasmodically between her tears, "and I think they killed
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