CHAPTER XVIII
AN ACT OF FORGETFULNESS
It would be supposed that common gratitude would have filled the heartof Jim McGovern after his rescue from death by the very lad whom hehad sought to injure, but when he returned to the tent, changed hisdraggled garments, helped himself to strong spirits and began puffinga cigarette, he was angered at seeing the smile on the face of hiscompanion.
"What's the matter with you?" he growled.
"Nothing, only I think you and I ought to learn how to swim."
"I don't see any need of it," replied Jim, who was in a savage humor.
"Then you won't have to yell for Dick Halliard to help you out whenyou tumble into the mill-pond."
"He didn't help me out; what are you talking about?" "He said so, andyou didn't deny it."
"It was _me_ that helped _him_ out," was the unblushingresponse of young McGovern, growing angrier every minute; "and I'mgoing to get even with him."
"Get even for what? For helping him out?"
"For lying about me; I don't allow any chap to do that."
"How are you going to do it, Jim?" asked Tom, glad of a chance totantalize his companion.
"Why, how do you suppose? I'll lay for him."
"Ah, that reminds me!" said his companion; "I forgot it until thisminute."
"What's that?"
"Why, when Bob started out this evening, he said he was going to dothat very thing--lay for young Halliard."
"What's _he_ got against him?" demanded Jim, resenting the ideathat any one should rob him of his anticipated pleasure.
"You heard what he said last night; Halliard holds himself so muchbetter than he that he feels it his duty to bring him down a peg ortwo; he told me that while you and I took a stroll wherever we chose,he would go down to Piketon to get some things at the store and beforehe came back would fix Halliard."
"I wonder if he did it before Halliard pulled me out of the pond--Imean before I pulled him out."
"If he did, it couldn't have amounted to much, for he didn't act likea chap suffering harm. No, it must be that Bob has missed him; buthe's likely to catch him on the way back. It's so late that Bob mustbe coming home, and he'll be sure to meet the young gentleman and willgive him a laying-out that he will remember for years."
Jim smoked a few minutes in silence. It is a principle of human naturethat if we do another a kindness we are apt to feel more friendlydisposed toward him than before, while the one receiving the favor isinclined to resent it. His gratitude may overmaster this mean emotion,but there is something in the thought of being under obligations toanother which is unpleasant, and results in stirring up emotions thatare no credit to us.
Jim McGovern could not forget that he was trying to injure an innocentperson when that person saved him from drowning. Had he not been thusengaged, probably he might not have felt so ugly toward him. But hissituation was so humiliating, considered in all aspects, that helooked upon Dick Halliard with more dislike than upon his bitterestenemy.
"Tom," said he, rising to his feet and flinging away the remnant of acigarette, "I aint going to stand it."
"You are standing it this minute after sitting all the evening."
"Stop trying to be funny; I'm going after that Halliard."
"When--to-morrow?"
"No, to-night; right away."
"Nonsense, it is very late; wait until to-morrow."
"I can't do it; I'm mad clear through; I'm off!"
He started toward the opening, but Tom sprang up and caught his arm.
"If you are bent on going take your weapons with you. There's notelling how badly you'll need 'em."
"No; I don't intend to shoot anybody, but I mean to give that fellowthe biggest whipping of his life."
"How are you going to manage it?"
"I can't stop to explain. I'll tell you when I come back;" and,without saying anything more, the wrathful Ranger strode toward themill-pond, where he took the main path leading to the highway. As hesaw the gleam of the water he shuddered to recall how near he came todeath; but his evil nature had no room at that time for the sweet,tender emotions that should have filled him.
At the moment of leaving camp he had fixed upon no clear method ofprocedure, and he gave his meditations now to the best plan forpunishing his preserver.
"It's easy enough," he added, after walking a short way; "I'll go tothe door and knock, and if it isn't young Halliard that opens it, I'llask for him, saying I must see him on something important. Then, whenI get him outside, I'll jump on him. I can do him up before anybodycomes to his help. If he's the first one to show himself, it'll be allthe better."
Bob had pointed out the modest little home of Dick Halliard that day,while the three Piketon Rangers were returning from their call attheir leader's house. Consequently McGovern had no trouble in findingthe place. He was surprised to observe the twinkle of a light from anupper window, which he accepted as proof that Dick was in the act ofretiring.
I wonder whether, if he had known it was the light burning in the sickchamber of his preserver's parent, it would have restrained him frompushing on with his scheme of revenge. I fear not.
Standing in front of the gate the Ranger spent several minutes inmaking what might be called a reconnoissance.
So far as he could discover everything was silent and no one wasastir. It was the only house in sight, and the lamp, showing throughthe curtain, was the solitary sign of wakefulness in Dick Halliard'shome. No shadows passed in front of the light, and he wondered why itwas that all was so strangely quiet.
But the impressiveness of the hour did not deter the evil youth fromcarrying out his purpose. He softly opened the gate and moved asstealthily as a burglar along the short path leading to the frontdoor.
Here he paused a few seconds to make sure his plan would workperfectly.
"When he shows himself, I'll step back and ask him to come outside, asI don't want any one to hear me. I'll get him to shut the door andleave the porch; then when I've got him where I want him, I'll let himhave a half-dozen right and left-handers, and run as hard I can downthe road. Nobody round here knows me and he won't get a good look atmy face. If he does and makes a kick over it, I'll prove an alibi."
Nothing seemed amiss, and the expectant McGovern reached up his handto sound the old-fashioned knocker.
"More than likely it will be young Halliard himself that will come tothe door--gracious! I never thought of that!"
At that moment Bowser, the big bull-dog belonging to Dick Halliard,having heard a slight noise in front, came trotting around the cornerof the house to see whether there were any tramps for him to devour.
Had Jim kept his place he would not have been molested, for Bowser wastoo well trained to harm any one calling in the right way, and whoseappearance was not against him. But the instant the youth caught sightof the ferocious canine, he did the very worst thing possible--hestarted to run.
Bowser accepted this as proof that he was there on wrong business, andhe dashed after him like a runaway engine. Before Jim could open andpass through the gate, the dog was nipping at the calves of his legswith a vigor that compelled the terrified youth to yell at the top ofhis voice.
Dick Halliard heard the shout, and, springing from his bed, threw upthe window and called to the animal to forbear. Bowser disliked toobey, for he was just getting fairly at work; but he came trottingback with his head down and a reproachful glance at his young master,for having interfered at such an unlucky time for him.
Inasmuch as it is impossible to do justice to Jim McGovern's feelings,while making his way back to the tent in the woods, we will notattempt to do so. Silence is the more eloquent under suchcircumstances.