"Don't tempt me!" she cried wildly. "If you lay a hand on Phil, I'll use
it--I surely will."

His eyes shone with delight. "I wonder. By Jove, I've a mind to flog
the colt and see. I'll do it."

The passion sank in her as suddenly as it had risen. "No--you mustn't!
You don't know him--or us. We are from the South."

"That settles it. I will," he exulted. "You have called me a coward.
Would a coward do this, and defy your whole crew to its revenge?"

"Would a brave man break the pride of a high-spirited boy for such a
mean motive?" she countered.

"His pride will have to look out for itself. He took his chance of it
when he tried to assault me. What he'll get is only what's coming to
him."

"Please don't! I'll--I'll be different to you. Take it out on me," she
begged.

He laughed harshly. "Do you suppose I'm such a fool as not to know that
the way to take it out on you is to take it out of him?"

She had come nearer, a step at a time. Now she threw her hand out in a
gesture of abandon.

"Be generous! Don't punish me that way. Something dreadful will come of