The boys, formed now into a crowing circle of delight, kept the kitten within bounds, and flouted David mercilessly.
"Ah, ha!--stop us, will ye?
Why don't ye stop us ?" they gibed.
For a moment David stood without movement, his eyes staring.

The next instant he turned and ran.

The jeers became a chorus of triumphant shouts then--but not for long.

David had only hurried to the woodpile to lay down his violin.

He came back then, on the run--and before the tallest boy could catch his breath he was felled by a stinging blow on the jaw.
Over by the church a small girl, red-haired and red-eyed, clambered hastily over the fence behind which for long minutes she had been crying and wringing her hands.
"He'll be killed, he'll be killed," she moaned.