Hazelton could do
nothing but throw himself on the defensive, planning to duplicate the black
man's catch.
Then the stone came---but it did not go high, instead, by a jerk of his
wrist, the negro hurled it at Harry's right foot.
That granite-like fragment struck Hazelton's foot with full force.
"You---you scoundrel!" groaned Harry, in an all but admiring gasp.
Like a flash he bent over, snatching up the fragment for his own use.
"Now, I'll slam you into the middle of the Gulf of Mexico!" cried the young
engineer, vengefully, as he tried to straighten up.
A groan escaped him. His injured foot was paining him more than he had
expected.
"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" harshly jeered this mysterious, evil creature. The
black man had halted as Harry prepared to throw, but he showed no sign of
hesitation. Though he stood still, he thrust his repulsive, leering face
forward, as though to offer that face as the best mark.
Harry found that he could not stand straight---the pain in his injured foot
was now too intense.
"Get back with you!" ordered Harry. "Get back if you don't want a heap
worse than you gave me."
"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" came the sneering laugh. Then the stranger reached out
his hands as though to seize the youth.
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