He turned and made tracks. So did Dad and Joe. They ran.
No one could have run harder. Terror overcame Joe. He squealed and
grabbed hold of Dad's shirt, which was ballooning in the wind.
"Let go!" Dad gasped. "DAMN Y', let me GO! "--trying to shake him off.
But Joe had great faith in his parent, and clung to him closely.
When they had covered a hundred yards or so, Dave glanced back, and seeing
that Jack was n't pursuing them, stopped and chuckled at the others.
"Eh?" Dad said, completely winded--"Eh?" Then to Dave, when he got
some breath:
"Well, you ARE an ass of a fellow. (PUFF!). What th' DEVIL did y' RUN f'?"
"Wot did I run f'? What did YOU run f'?"
"Bah!" and Dad boldly led the way back.
"Now look here (turning fiercely upon Joe), don't you come catching hold
of me again, or if y' DO I'll knock y'r d--d head off!...Clear home
altogether, and get under the bed if y're as frightened as THAT."
Joe slunk behind.
But when Dad DID approach Jack, which was n't until he had talked a great
deal to him across a big log, the latter did n't show any desire to take
life, but allowed himself to be escorted home and locked in the barn
quietly enough.
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