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Everett screamed once, then was silent; for with his unmaimed hand the scowman had grasped his enemy's throat and was shaking the body as a dog does a rat. In his frenzy, Lem threshed and tumbled Brimbecomb about on the hut floor, the sight of his rival's blood sending him mad; and always the sound of his gasps and chokes rose above the struggle.
Screech Owl lifted her head and drew back frightened. Something warned her that she must not tell him where his son lived. "I'll get him for ye," she said doggedly. "Where be he?" demanded the scowman. "I ain't tellin' ye where he be now, Lem." Scraggy's tone was sulky. "Why?" "'Cause I'll go and get him. I'll bring him to the scow lessen lessen " "Lessen what?" cried Lem darkly.
Her dignity, the haughty poise of her head as she looked straight at him, filled him with something like dismay. Would Lem be able to subdue her with brute force? The scowman also observed her stealthily, compared her to Scraggy, and wondered. They both waited for Fledra to continue; but during the rest of the meal she did not speak again.
"Ye said we had, Screechy, and I know we have. Now, get up out of that there snow, or ye'll freeze." The scowman helped Screech Owl to her feet, and supported her back over the graves to the toolhouse. "Ye stay here till I come for ye, Scraggy, and don't ye dare go 'way no place. Do ye hear?"
Of a sudden the gurgles in the throat of the scowman ceased, his face became purple black, and it seemed to Ann that his blood must burst through the thick skin. With one last movement he again buried his hook in Everett, then tried to throw the body from him; but, instead, he himself, fell in a heap on the floor. Suddenly the door opened, and Scraggy Peterson staggered into the hut.
"Be it that good-lookin' feller what ye give the fifty dollars to what wants Flea?" Cronk nodded. "I thought ye wouldn't let me marry her," Lem cried, "and now ye be goin' " Lon interrupted the scowman fiercely: "Nuther is he goin' to marry her ye can bet on that! No kid of Vandecar's gets a boost up from me a boost down, more like!"
"Yer pappy says as how I can't marry ye," went on Lem, in the same whisper, "and I don't give a damn about that only, ye don't leave this scow to go to no hut! Ye stay here with me!" Fledra had wedged herself more tightly into the corner, hugging the snarling Snatchet closer. As she backed, the scowman came nearer, his hot breath flooding her face. "Put down that there dorg!" he hissed.
Lem was there, arranging the boat for her reception in his crude, homely way. She was sure the scowman would not give her up. The thought brought Ann more vividly into her mind. If Everett came for her, and Lem held to his desire, Miss Shellington's happiness would be assured. The handsome young lawyer would return to Tarrytown, back to the woman who loved him.
She turned upon him, and the scowman halted. "I said as how I'd settle with ye, Flea," he said, "and now I'm goin' to." But Lon glared so fiercely that Crabbe closed his mouth and retreated. "It ain't time fer ye to settle yet, Lem, I'm a thinkin'," said Lon. "Ye keep shet up, or I'll settle with ye afore ye has a chance to fix Flea." Turning to the girl, he questioned her.
The scowman relieved Lon of his burden and carried the half-drowned girl below, whither the squatter, dripping with water, quickly followed. Snatchet was directly in his path, and he kicked the dog under the table. At the yelp, Fledra lifted her head, and Lon bent over her. "What'd ye jump in the lake for, Flea?" he asked. Still somewhat dazed, Fledra failed to answer.
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