Bob, son of Battle . naked space of greenround the bridge-head, like a fairy circle, into which theuninitiated might not penetrate. Round this the mobhedged: the Dalesmen in front, striving knavishlyback and bawling to those behind to leggo that shovin;and these latter urging valorously forward, yelling jeersand contumely at the front rank. Come on! Osafraid? Lerrus through to em, then, ye Royal Stan-backsl—for well they knew the impossibility of theirdemand. And as they wedged and jostled thus, there stole outfrom their midst as gallant a champion as ever trod thegrass. He trotted out into th
Bob, son of Battle . naked space of greenround the bridge-head, like a fairy circle, into which theuninitiated might not penetrate. Round this the mobhedged: the Dalesmen in front, striving knavishlyback and bawling to those behind to leggo that shovin;and these latter urging valorously forward, yelling jeersand contumely at the front rank. Come on! Osafraid? Lerrus through to em, then, ye Royal Stan-backsl—for well they knew the impossibility of theirdemand. And as they wedged and jostled thus, there stole outfrom their midst as gallant a champion as ever trod thegrass. He trotted out into the ring, the observed of all,and paused to gaze at the gaunt figure on the bridge. Thesun lit the sprinkling of snow on the dome of his head;one forepaw was off the ground; and he stood there,royally alert, scanning his antagonist. Th Owd Un! went up in a roar fit to split the airas the hero of the day was recognized. And the Dalesmengave a pace forward spontaneously as the gray knight-errant stole across the The dog galloped on to the rattling plank, took his post fair and squarein the centre of the narrow zvay, and stood facing the hostile crew. HOW RED WULL HELD THE BRIDGE 119 Oor Bob11 fetch him! they roared, their blood leap-ing to fever heat, and gripped their sticks, determined instern reality to follow now. The gray champion trotted up on to the bridge, andpaused again, the long hair about his neck rising like a ruff,and a strange glint in his eyes; and the holder of the bridgenever moved. Red and Gray stood thus, face to face:the one gay yet resolute, the other motionless, his greathead slowly sinking between his forelegs, seeminglypetrified. There was no shouting now: it was time for deeds, notwords. Only, above the stillness, came a sound from thebridge like the snore of a giant in his sleep, and blending,with it, a low, deep, purring thunder like some monster catwell pleased. Wullie, came a solitary voice from the far side,keep the bridge 1 One ear went bac
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidbobsonofbatt, bookyear1898
