AN AFFRAY AT NIGHT
Ben Mayberry was so desirous that Rutherford Richmond and his brother
conspirator should be given all the time they needed to complete their
scheme for waylaying and assaulting him, that he lingered on the road
longer than was really necessary.
Finally he turned down the street, which crossed by the creek that ran
through the center of Damietta. It was a clear moonlight night, and,
except in the shadow, objects could be seen distinctly for a considerable
distance. He advanced with great care, and with all his wits at command,
for he was confident the warning given him by Ned Deering was well
founded.
When within a block of the bridge he saw someone peep out of Carter's
Alley and instantly draw back his head, as though fearful of being
observed. A moment later, a second person did the same. Rutherford
Richmond and his confederate were on hand.
They did not look like the two boys as seen in the glare of Mr. Grandin's
parlors, for they had disguised themselves, so far as possible, with a
view of preventing their recognition by the boy whom they meant to
assault. They knew they were liable to get themselves into trouble by
such an outrageous violation of law, and they meant to take all the
precautions necessary.
Each had donned a long flapping overcoat, which must have belonged to
some of the older members of the families, as it dangled about his heels.
They also wore slouch hats like a couple of brigands, which they pulled
down over their eyes, so as to hide their features. They had no weapons,
for it was calculated that by springing upon Ben unawares they would
easily bear him to the pavement, when both would give him a beating which
he would remember for a lifetime.
Ben was whistling softly to himself, and he was glad that at the late
hour no one else was seen in the immediate neighborhood, for all he asked
was a clear field and no favor.
As he walked by the open end of Carter's Alley, he dimly discerned two
figures, which seemed plastered against the wall in the dense shadow,
where they were invisible to all passers-by, unless their suspicion was
directed to the spot.
Ben gave no evidence that he noticed them, and moved along in his
deliberate fashion, changing his whistling to a low humming of no
particular tune; but he used his keen eyesight and hearing for all they
were worth.
He had gone no more than a dozen feet beyond, when he heard a rapid but
cautious footstep behind him. It increased in swiftness, and was
instantly followed by a second. The two boys were approaching him
stealthily from the rear.
Still Ben walked quietly forward, humming to himself, and with no
apparent thought of what was coming. Suddenly, when Richmond was in the
very act of making a leap upon his shoulders, Ben turned like a flash,
and planted a stunning blow directly in the face of the exultant coward,
who was knocked on his back as if kicked by a vigorous mule.
His companion was at the elbow of Richmond when struck in this emphatic
fashion, and for the instant was bewildered by the unexpected
catastrophe. Before he could recover he imagined the comet which was
expected at that season had caught him directly between the eyes, and he
went backward over Richmond, with his two legs pointing upward, like a
pair of dividers, toward the stars.
Ben's blood was up, and he waited for the two to rise, intending to "lay
them out" more emphatically than before. The lad whose name he did not
know lay still, but Rutherford recovered with remarkable quickness, and
began struggling to his feet, without paying heed to his hat, which had
rolled into the gutter.
"That ain't fair to strike a fellow that way, when he ain't expecting
it," growled the assassin. "Why didn't you stand still like a man and not
hit below the belt?"
"All right; I give you notice then, friend Rutherford, that I am going
for you again, and this time above the belt."
Richmond, finding he must fight, threw up his hands and did his best to
guard against the blows whose force he knew so well. He did possess some
knowledge of sparring, but so did Ben, who was much the stronger and more
active of the two. He advanced straight upon Richmond, made several
feints, and then landed a blow straight from the shoulder, at the same
time parrying the cross-counter which the lad came near getting in on the
face.
It so happened that, at that moment, the other young scamp was in the act
of rising, and had got upon his hands and knees. As Richmond was sent
spinning backward he came in collision with him, and turned a complete
somersault, the air seeming to be full of legs, long hair, hats, and
flapping overcoats.
"Murder! help! help! police! police!"
These startling cries were shouted at the top of their voices by the
discomfited poltroons, and were heard a long distance on the still night.
Suddenly the rattle of running feet sounded on the planks of the bridge,
and Ben caught sight of a policeman running toward the spot.
"What does this mean?" he demanded, when he came face to face with Ben,
whom he motioned to stop.
"Those two fellows attacked me when I was passing Carter's Alley, and
I--well, I defended myself as best I could."
"Oh, Ben, that is you; I didn't know you at first," said the policeman.
"This is rather serious business; I'll run 'em in."
Advancing to where the boys were once more climbing to their feet, he
grasped each by the collar.
"I'll take you along with me, young gents; this is serious business for
you."
They begged piteously to be let off, declaring that it was only a joke,
but the officer was inexorable, and marched them to the station house,
where they spent the rest of the night, Ben Mayberry having been notified
to be on hand at nine o'clock the next morning, when the police justice
would make an investigation.