CHAPTER II
HE GETS HIS WISH
"Some excitement, I own up, Perk," agreed Jack, exchanging a look ofinquiry with his companion. "Dog fight, like as not, since I thought Iheard a yowling just then, as if one mutt'd got his in the neck."
"Jest hear the people a shoutin' will yeou?" snapped Perk.
"But that doesn't sound like they were enjoying themselves a heap, I'dsay, boy--such screaming and yelling--they're badly rattled overwhatever's going on. What could it all mean, I wonder?"
"Hot-diggetty-dig! we'll know right soon, ole hoss; 'cause it's headin'this way--gettin' a heap louder ev'ry second, I vow! Guess yeou struckit right when yeou sez they must be skeered into a near panic. Don'thear no guns agoin' off, so it cain't be a brawl 'tween drunkenbootleggers an' town constables. Well, I swan, it gets me--look at thefolks a beatin' it to the houses, like they reckoned they'd be saferthere. Mebbe we better shin up a telegraph pole like that youngster's adoin' over yonder--he means to git high an' dry, so's to see the circus,but not take chances with the runaway animal's flyin' heels. Wow! what'sthis I lamp a comin' 'reound that corner, waggin' his ole head from sideto side--a big yeller _dog_, Jack, with foam a drippin' from his openred mouth! Great guns!"
"That beast is as mad as a hatter!" boomed Jack, thrilled by thefrightful sight. "He's bound to own the whole street, no matter if abattalion of cops try to sheer him off!"
"Mebbe, mate," Perk was shouting "we'd better be steppin' to one side ina hurry; I ain't lost nary dog; an' I'm not fool enough to want to standup 'fore one that's rabid--not Gabe Perkiser! Get a move on, Jack, an'vamose!"
"Wait up!" cried the other, for so great was the clamor no one couldexpect to be heard unless he fairly shouted.
"Excuse me, boy--I got a date!" Perk bellowed back, grinning as hespoke.
"Look ahead, Perk--that child--little boy he is--fell down in hisfright, and must've sprained his ankle--see him try to scramble upagain; but he can't manage it, what with his fright and twisted ankle.The dog--it's making straight for the youngster--we can't stand by, andsee him tackle such a mere baby--we've just _got_ to do something,Perk!"
"Sure do, partner--let's go!"
Others were running in every direction save toward the great ugly beast,thinking in their panicky state of nerves only of their own safety. Allthe while the shouts continued to go booming along the length of MainStreet:
"Mad dog! mad dog! everybody run--get the children indoors! He's rabidand ready to snap at anybody in his way! Run for it!"
But the poor little baby directly in the path of the oncoming demoncould not heed the shouts--vainly he tried to crawl to one side, histerrified eyes fixed on that dreadful vision of fury and rabiesconfronting him, and drawing closer with every passing second.
Jack and Perk were galloping forward with all their might, intending tothrow themselves between the child and that stumbling terror with thelolling head and dripping jaws.
It could be seen that Perk was gripped by a sudden inspiration--he haddragged some sort of object from his pocket, and was working feverishlywith the same. Jack understood, and inwardly blessed the lucky chancethat had caused his pal to fetch his old war weapon out to his friendthe town gunsmith, so as to have it put in first-class condition. Itmust have been the hand of a kind fate that brought about this wonderfulcoincidence, Jack was telling himself, when guessing that the runningairman must be trying with all his cleverness to insert a cartridge ortwo into the chambers of the small, antiquated six-shooter.
Fortune favored them, for they were enabled to pass beyond the writhingand shrieking child, thus facing the danger themselves as a shield tobuck up against the charge of the mad dog.
Perk dropped down on one knee--it was the natural position for one toassume under such conditions, bringing him more on a level with thebeast. Jack, too, knew he had a part in the scheme to save the tinylad--lacking a weapon of any kind he could not stand by Perk; but onething was left to him, which was to snatch up the imperiled child, andleap to safety before the crisis crashed upon them.
Even as he was thus bearing the lad out of the danger zone, he caught asudden explosion that told him Perk had sent in a shot. It was his bosompal crouched back there with that shaggy beast almost upon him; for heknew full well Perk had waited until he could make doubly certain of hisaim.
Somehow Jack could not keep from turning his head, so as to know theworst--he had a cold feeling in the region of his heart, undoubtedlyfearing he would discover Perk engaged in a furious struggle at closequarters with the animal, one bite from whose jaws would contaminate theflesh his cruel fangs thus mangled.
But that fear was instantly put to flight--Perk still knelt there, whilethe furious beast writhed on the ground, making frightful efforts to getup on its four feet again.
This he no sooner succeeded in doing than Perk let him have a secondleaden pill, working his keepsake weapon of the great war withmechanical precision. How lucky then he must have succeeded in thrusting_two_ cartridges into the maw of his gun, since there proved to be suchgreat need of an _encore_.
It was "all over but the shouting," as Perk himself would have put it.He rose to his feet, and coolly stepped forward, to bend over and seethat there no longer remained a single breath in the carcase of theterrible brute he had stayed in his mad passage through the town.
The tenor of the wild shouts changed like magic--joy and triumph, not tosay relief, began to be heard, as if reassuring the frightened populacethere was no longer anything to be feared--the ogre Jabberwock had beenlaid low, and once again the length of Main Street could be traversedwithout peril to life and limb.
And the one who had performed this valorous deed seemed only anxious tomake himself scarce before the worshiping citizens could lay hands onhim--shower him with thanks, perhaps _kisses_ as well from the gentlersex, who knew a hero in the flesh as well as on the Hollywood screen.
Jack was trying the best he knew how to allay the terror of the child hestill held in his arms, speaking to him with assurance in his tones, andsqueezing the white-faced little chap close to his heart.
"It's all right, buddy," he kept saying, with a comforting smile on hisface, that was bound to stop the trembling sobs of the other, ifanything could. "The ugly dog can't hurt you, for he's been killed, andcan never bite anybody. You must have hurt your ankle, little brother;I'm going to carry you to where you live, so they can take care of you,and get the kind doctor to take the pain away. Put your arms around myneck, and I'll be able to hold you better--that's the way, kiddie; youknow I'm a good friend of yours, don't you?"
The crowd was all around them by this time, milling so as to get asclose as possible--it reminded Jack of cattle being rounded up by expertpunchers, so as to be shipped to market, or it might be, branded.
"Stand back, please, and give us air!" Jack called out, to add: "Perk,see that they don't crowd in any further. I'm not going to be satisfieduntil I've seen this little lad safe in his home. Who knows where helives?"
There were a dozen voices raised in explanations; but Jack lifted a handto stop the confused racket.
"Hold up on that!" he told them, sharply; "I want just one person totell me--here, you boy, you seem to know him okay--tell me his name,will you, and where he lives--nobody else break in now, get that? Go on,George, speak up!"
"My name's Jimmy--his'n is Laddy Boy--he lives with his granny Mrs.Fergussan right 'round that next corner, in a little shack."
"Fine for you Jimmy--lead us to it; and please everybody stoppushing--that shouting must be dropped, or you'll have the old ladyfrightened half to death before we get there. Now start along,Jimmy--you're a good pal to tie to, I'll say."
So they made a start, with scores following after them, all talking; butin more subdued tones. Possibly they realized that this young chap withthe capable look, and firm voice, was one accustomed to having hisorders obeyed without any questions being asked, and that he would brookno in
terference.
As they turned into the side street the young pilot hastened to point inthe direction of a small old, but respectable looking cottage of somethree rooms, that was surrounded by masses of flowers in full bloom.
Jack could see the door of the small house was wide open, and that anelderly woman stood there, shading her eyes with a hand, as she watchedthe approach of the crowd. Undoubtedly she must have heard what had beenso loudly shouted, when the mad dog was causing such a panic on MainStreet--she may even have started toward the nearby corner, with a greatfear tugging at her heart, knowing her Laddie Boy was going about on thelittle errand she had entrusted to him; but if so fear had driven herback to the home, where she could slam the door shut in case personalperil threatened her.
Seeing Jack in the lead of the procession, carrying some object in hisarms, she came flying down to meet him, looking aghast.
"Don't be so alarmed Mrs. Ferguson," Jack said, sympathizing with hernew fears; "he wasn't bitten by the dog; but had the bad luck to sprainhis ankle. It's nothing serious, I'm telling you straight--lead the way,and I'll put him on a bed, when you can send for the doctor to look himover; but don't worry--he's safe enough, I promise you."
Presently Jack joined his partner.
"Let's go, matey," Perk hastened to say, uneasily, as though he fearedthose admiring good folks outside were actually conspiring to pick himup on their shoulders, and march around town with the hero of the maddog scare; something like that, but to which he was very must averse.
"Wait a few minutes," Jack told his nervous comrade, "I promised the oldlady I'd stay out here until the doctor had looked the child over; shewants to get the story out of us, I imagine, guessing something queermust have happened, from the way those folks kept pawing at us."
Perk drew a long breath, and muttered something under his breath thatsounded like "drat the tough luck;" but he did settle down on a chair,and amused himself looking around the room, on the walls of which were anumber of cheap pictures, also several portraits.
"Come over here, Perk," Jack was saying, as he stood in front of thepicture of a man, "here's a queer happening--look at that face--have youever seen it before?"