The slut made no attempt to tackle him; she stood off with her
tongue out. Several small dogs belonging to Anderson barked energetically
at him, even venturing occasionally to run behind and bite his tail. But,
further than grabbing them in his arms and embracing them, he took no
notice. There he towered, his head back and chest well out, awaiting the
horsemen. They came, shouting and hooraying. He faced them defiantly.
Anderson, aglow with excitement, dismounted and aimed a lump of rock at
his head, which laid out one of the little dogs. They pelted him with
sticks and stones till their arms were tired, but they might just as well
have pelted a dead cow. Paddy Maloney took out his stirrup. "Look out!"
he cried. They looked out. Then, galloping up, he swung the iron at the
marsupial, and nearly knocked his horse's eye out.
Dad was disgusted. He and Joe approached the enemy on Farmer. Dad carried
a short stick. The "old man" looked him straight in the face. Dad poked
the stick at him. He promptly grabbed hold of it, and a piece of Dad's
hand as well. Farmer had not been in many battles--no Defence Force man
ever owned him. He threw up his head and snorted, and commenced a retreat.
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