She seized the boy nearest to her by the hair and pulled him fairly to the ground, so that the poor fellow howled from pain.

With the other hand she dealt blows and cuffs, and scratched and punched indiscriminately among the youngsters, so that a sudden panic broke out among these would-be heroes.

Each sought to get out of her reach with the greatest alacrity.

She at last released her hold on the first victim and reached out for another; but the last of the young Corn people was just tumbling down from the roof, and her clutch at his leg came too late.

In an instant the roof was cleared.