His face was set, his eyes blazing; all his muscles taut.

He stood like an avenging knight guarding some pathway.

Harry looked on in amazement--he had never seen his uncle like this before.
The colonel wheeled about suddenly and raised his clenched hand.

He seemed to be nervously unstrung and for a moment to have lost his self-control.
"Stop, St.George!" he thundered.

"Stop instantly! Not another word, do you hear me?
Don't strain a friendship that has lasted from boyhood or I may forget myself as you have done.