With a howl
of fury they precipitated themselves upon Katy, but she was quick as
they, and holding the rescued bonnet in her hand, was already
half-way up the fence.
There are moments when it is a fine thing to be tall. On this occasion
Katy's long legs and arms served her an excellent turn. Nothing but a
Daddy Long Legs ever climbed so fast or so wildly as she did now. In one
second she had gained the top of the fence. Just as she went over a
Millerite seized her by the last foot, and almost dragged her boot off.
Almost, not quite, thanks to the stout thread with which Aunt Izzie had
sewed on the buttons. With a frantic kick Katy released herself, and had
the satisfaction of seeing her assailant go head over heels backward,
while, with a shriek of triumph and fright, she herself plunged headlong
into the midst of a group of Knights. They were listening with open
mouths to the uproar, and now stood transfixed at the astonishing
spectacle of one of their number absolutely returning alive from the
camp of the enemy.
I cannot tell you what a commotion ensued. The Knights were beside
themselves with pride and triumph. Katy was kissed and hugged, and made
to tell her story over and over again, while rows of exulting girls sat
on the wood-house roof to crow over the discomfited Millerites: and
when, later, the foe rallied and began to retort over the fence, Clover,
armed with a tack-hammer, was lifted up in the arms of one of the tall
girls to rap the intruding knuckles as they appeared on the top.
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