In this extremity there flashed into his mind the thought of Ogo’s axe. Two paces brought him to the tree; and his hand sought and found the projecting handle. His enemies were in no hurry: they approached with a stealthy relentlessness. He heard Noke yelling: ‘Catch un, lads! Catch ’em both, and truss ’em up.’ And the eldest of the sons closed in upon him. The sudden rush took him by surprise; and, having no room in which to swing his axe, he thrust it savagely at the hostile face. The clutching hands relaxed their grip, and the man staggered back with a scream. Two others were within a yard of Seth, but now he was shouting with the madness of battle and his weapon had free play. A third man leaped upon his back, caught at his throat, and struggled to disarm him. The two fell backwards; other bodies came hurtling upon them. A writhing mass of bodies, a many-headed monster, heaved and plunged upon the ground, kicking with its ten legs and growling with all its mouths. But even in this tangle of ferocity Seth somehow retained his weapon; and presently, as it seemed by a miracle, he had wriggled free of the mass and was running this way and that, uncertain of his ground. He was victorious so far, but he had still to find Charity; and now they were at him again. The foremost man came recklessly, blind with animal rage. Seth’s axe caught him on the jaw. ‘Lay hold on un, can’t ye!’ cried Noke. ‘By cripes, if I’d a pair of legs I’d shew ye!’ But the man with the smashed jaw fell and lay moaning in the grass, within a few yards of his wounded brother; and the two that remained standing seemed for a moment daunted, unwilling to come within reach of that murderous axe. Seth, now swollen with the gross pride of his victory, was ready and eager for them. ‘Come on then,’ he cried. ‘Come and take un who can. Come on then, my brave cockies, and daun’t be so countable shy. Rackon tis wenches you’d rather be fighten.’ His slow, loud, mocking drawl had more than a hint of Noke in its quality; and Noke, even in the height of his impotent anger, pricked up his ears, recognizing a kinship of spirit. For an instant he came near to admiration of this young crowing fighter, and lusted the more bitterly for his defeat. Again he urged his sons to it, but they still hung back, muttering and grumbling. ‘Better see to y’r father,’ drawled Seth contemptuously. ‘I rackon he’ve catched hurt. And y’r brothers too, seemingly. Go along then,’ he added, more friendly. ‘I’ll not bite ye again till ye beg for un.’ But now, having time for reflection, his mind was busy with wondering where Charity was. To find her: that was the next thing. With all his heart, his angry exultant heart, he wished she were at his side, to crown and share his triumph. She was his prize; he had fairly won her; and now he was resolved that nothing should cheat him of possessing her for his own. No one could stop him: not her father, not her brothers, not all the world. The world indeed would be with him, for these Noke men were notoriously queer: savage, industrious, secret in their ways, regarding all their neighbours with suspicion. To snatch the girl from such a home—and a fine sweet girl, as anyone could see—would be held a right and gallant thing; and her father’s opposition would count for nothing. She was old enough to choose, and she would choose him, Seth Shellett: he made no doubt of that. She was in his blood, and he in hers: they were already mated, and lacked only that blessing of the church which Parson Hockley would gladly pronounce, and Squire Marden benevolently approve (for Seth knew himself to be something of a favourite with both). Fighting had roused all that was masterful and sanguine in his spirit: he was a different man from the slow-minded ineffectual fellow who had been pleading with Charity only a few hours before. He was glad that his love had been discovered, so that henceforth he could move openly and irresistibly to his heart’s desire. ‘Ay, you daun’t trust me then, be that ut?’ He was feeling much friendlier now, ready to forgive everybody; and in this new mood it hurt him a little to see that while one of the unwounded sons was bending over his fallen comrades, the other still warily watched their dangerous quarry, as if expecting a new attack. Seth, returning the stare, said no more. He had something to say yet, to the old man: but twould be time enough for that when he had Charity safe. He ached now for the sight and touch of her.
A boy’s clear voice rang out behind him.
‘Lookee here, Seth Shellett!’ Seth, startled though he was, turned but half-way. So there was yet another on ’em, was there? He suspected some new trick.
‘What now then?’ he asked, truculently, over his shoulder.