To The West Part 5

He reached over and s.n.a.t.c.hed the missive I was writing from the desk, and held it up before him.

"Do you call that writing?" he roared. "Disgraceful! Abominable! The first boy I met in the street would do better. There--and there--and there!"

He tore the letter to fragments and threw the paper in my face.

"Now then; write another directly," he cried; "and if you dare to--Here, what are you going to do?" he roared, as Esau took hold of the sheet of paper containing the errors.

"Going to write it over again, sir."

"Write it over again, you miserable impostor!" he cried, as he s.n.a.t.c.hed the paper back and laid a leaden weight upon it. "I'll teach you to waste my time and paper gossiping--that's what it means."

"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Esau, as Mr Dempster seized him by the collar.

"I'll show you what I'm going to do, you idle young scoundrel," cried Mr Dempster, and he reached out his hand to take his stout cane from where it lay across his hat.

"Here, don't you hit me," cried Esau; and he tried to get away, as I sat breathless, watching all that was going on, and thinking that Mr Dempster dared not use the walking-cane in the way he seemed to threaten. Esau evidently thought he would, for he struggled hard now, but in vain, and he was dragged towards the chair. Then, as pulling seemed no use, the lad changed his tactics, and he darted forward to make for the door, just as Mr Dempster's hand was touching the stick, which he did not secure, for the jerk he received sent cane and hat off the chair on to the floor.

"You dog!" roared Dempster, as the hat went on to the oilcloth with a hollow bang.

"Don't you hit me!" cried Esau, struggling wildly to escape; and the next moment, as they swayed to and fro, I heard a strange crushing sound, and on looking to see the cause, there lay Mr Dempster's beautiful guinea-and-a-half hat crushed into a shapeless, battered ma.s.s.

"Ah!" roared Mr Dempster, "you dog; you did that on purpose."

"I didn't," cried Esau; "it was your foot did it."

"Was it? was it?" snarled Mr Dempster, and the struggle recommenced, until I, with the perspiration standing on my forehead, caught tightly hold of the desk.

Esau was pretty strong, but he was almost helpless in the bands of the angry man who held him, and the struggle ended, after the high stool and the chair had both been knocked over with a crash, by Mr Dempster's getting Esau down and holding him there with one knee upon his chest.

"Hah!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, panting. "Here you, Gordon, get down and pick up my cane," and he gave his head a jerk in the direction of where the stick lay, just as it had been knocked close to the door.

Months of rigid obedience to the tyrant had their effect, and I got down from my stool trembling with excitement.

"Oh, don't, don't, Gordon!" cried Esau; "don't give it him."

But my employer's eyes were fixed upon me with such a look that I was fascinated, and as if moved against my own will, I crossed the office and picked up the thick cane.

"Give it here, quick!"

For I stood there hesitating, but the imperative voice mastered me, and I moved towards the speaker.

"Don't--don't give it him," cried Esau.

"Quick--this instant!" roared Mr Dempster, and I handed the cane.

"You sneak!" cried Esau angrily; "I'd ha' died first."

His words sent a sting through me, and I would have given anything to have been able to say, "I couldn't help it, Esau." But I was speechless, and felt the next instant as if a blow had fallen upon me, as I saw with starting eyes Mr Dempster shift his position, keeping a tight hold of Esau by the collar as he rose into a stooping position, and then, _whizz! thud_! he brought the cane down with all his force across the lad's shoulders.

Esau uttered a yell as he tried to spring up, but he was held fast, and the blows were falling thick and fast upon the struggling lad, when I could bear it no longer, and with one bound I was at the auctioneer, and had fast hold of the cane.

"Stop!" I shouted, half hysterically; "you shan't beat him. You have no right to do it, sir. Esau, get up. Run!"

"Let go!" cried Mr Dempster, turning a face black with pa.s.sion at me.

"Do you hear, beggar? Let go!"

"I will not," I cried, for my blood was up now, and I did not feel in the least afraid. "You have no right to beat him."

"Let go!"

"Don't, don't, Gordon! Yah! you great coward!"

"Once more, will you let go?" cried Mr Dempster, as he stood with one hand in Esau's collar, bent down, and tugging at the cane, to which I clung.

"No," I cried. "You shall not strike him again."

I had hardly spoken when Mr Dempster rose up, loosening his hold of Esau, and dashing his free hand full in my face, while, as I fell back, he jerked the cane away and struck at me a cruel stinging blow from the left shoulder, as a cavalry-man would use a sabre, the cane striking me full across the right ear, while the pain was as acute as if the blow had been delivered by a keen-edged sword.

For a few moments I staggered back, half stunned and confused, while blow succeeded blow, now delivered on my back and arms with all his might.

As I said, the first cruel, cowardly blow half stunned me; those which followed stung me back into a wild state of rage and pain which made me reckless and blind, as, regardless of pain and the fact that he was a well-knit, strong man, I made a dash at the cane, got hold of it with both hands, and in spite of his efforts kept my grip of the stout elastic stick.

I knew that I was swung here and there, and the cane was tugged at till the ivory handle fell on the floor, and then he changed his attack, letting go of the cane with one hand and catching me by the throat.

"Now then," he cried, and I felt that I was mastered.

Then I knew I was wrong, for at that moment Mr Dempster was driven forward, his forehead striking mine, and as I fell back my a.s.sailant fell on his knees, and I stood panting, the master of the cane.

The explanation was simple. Esau had watched his opportunity, and leaped upon our tyrant's back, pinning his arms to his sides, and making him in his surprise loosen his hold of the cane.

It is hard work to recall it now, so wild and confused it all seems; but I remember well that I must have struck Mr Dempster, and that as he came at me Esau seized and overturned the great desk right in his way, sending him down again, while the next moment my fellow-clerk was holding open the door, shouting to me to come.

I caught down my hat and Esau's, and made for the door, which Esau dragged to in our employer's face, and the next minute we were tearing up the lane.

"Stop them! stop thief!" was shouted hoa.r.s.ely, and in our excitement we looked back to see our enemy in pursuit, while, as we turned again to run, we found ourselves face to face with a burly City policeman, who caught each of us by an arm.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A MISERABLE NIGHT.

"Hah! The scoundrels!" panted Dempster, as he came up, flushed, bareheaded, his glossy coat covered with dust, and a great dark weal growing darker moment by moment on his forehead, while for the first time I became aware of the fact that my right ear was cut and bleeding freely.

"What is it, sir?" said the policeman; and I shivered slightly as I felt his grip tighten on my arm.

"Take them. I give them in charge," panted Mr Dempster, hoa.r.s.e with rage--"robbery and a.s.sault."