Catching up a handful of stones that lay only too handy for him, he began to hurl them into the midst of the crowd, which so frightened the men and boys that a hasty retreat was begun. Crash went a pane of glass, where one of the rocks went hurling through the store window, followed by a series of wild cries: “Look out for the little devil or he’ll kill us!” CHAPTER XIII. AN UNEXPECTED CHAMPION. As Ruddy raised his right arm over his head to throw the missile, which might have struck some one with deadly effect, a clear, sharp voice rang out over the startling scene, quickly ending the outbreak: “Hold, boy! don’t throw that stone, or I will horsewhip you within an inch of your life!” The first word had been sufficient to check the rash boy in his dangerous work, when he turned hastily about to find a man had ridden close to the edge of the crowd, and, standing up in his carriage, held a long, stout whip poised over his head ready to send its stinging lash around his body did he fail to obey him. “What is all this rumpus about?” demanded this newcomer, who instantly made himself master of the situation. “These youngsters are raising particular cain with our boys, Dr. Menter. I don’t know but they have killed Ralph,” said ’Squire Hardy. “Looks as if your boy was coming out of it better than this fellow with the bleeding head,” replied the man in the carriage, who was the village physician, beginning to step out upon the ground. Ruddy had dropped the rocks in his hands and stood with looks of combined fear and wonder. Chick had already dropped from his perch on a man’s shoulders and sought the side of Ruddy. “I hope he has been killed!” declared the ’squire. “Look out what you say, ’Squire Hardy, for such words as those might make you trouble and be inconvenient to explain in a courtroom.” “So you stand up for the hoodlum, do you, doctor?” “No, sir; I simply speak for fair play. It was a coward who threw that stone, and he has laid himself open to the law and a serious punishment if this boy has been fatally injured.” “He began the quarrel, and it was done in self-defense.” “Let me advise you as a friend, ’squire, not to say too much. I will see if the boy is seriously hurt.” While the other muttered over something under his breath, Dr. Menter knelt beside Rob, to make an examination of the wound. This was not found to be of a serious nature, and in a few minutes our hero was able to sit up. “You’ve come out all right, youngster,” said the physician, “but it came pretty near being a close call.” Upon finding that no one had been killed, the spectators, who had been rather frightened over the outcome of the affair a little while before, now boldly stepped forward. “Stand back!” ordered Dr. Menter. “The boy is coming around all right, and there is no need of crowding upon us so.”