Meantime the next speaker, a woman, had mounted upon a box, and was
crying in a shrill voice: "We are Socialists! We are the only
political party which dares to speak for the working class of
Lockmanville! We protest against this outrage! We demand free speech!
There has been bribery in our city council!"
Then suddenly the boy heard a disturbance behind him, and turned, just
in the nick of time. A fellow had thrust his way through the crowd
toward him, a rowdy with a brutal, half-drunken face. And Samuel saw
him raise his hand, with some dark object in it, and aim a smashing
blow at his head.
The boy ducked and raised his arm. He felt a sharp, agonizing pain,
and his arm dropped helpless at his side. Something struck him across
the forehead, cutting a gash, out of which hot blood spurted, blinding
him. He heard Beggs, who was beside him, give a shout--"Down!" And
realizing that his life was aimed at, he dropped like a flash, and put
his head under him, covering it with one arm as well as he could.
There was a struggle going on over him. Men were pushing and shouting-
-and some one kicked him savagely upon the leg. He crawled on a little
way, still keeping his head down, underneath the feet of the
contendents. He heard Beggs shouting for help, and heard the Bremers
answering; he heard the roar of the throng all about, the sharp
commands of the police sergeant, and the crack of clubs, falling upon
the heads of men and women.
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