Judy nodded;--then screamed: "Look out! He'll git you, sure!"

Judy's rescuer whirled, to see the man on the ground drawing a gun. A
vigorous, well-directed kick, delivered in the nick of time, sent the
gun whirling away into the bushes and rendered the native's right arm
useless.

"Get up!" commanded Brian.

The man rose to his feet, and stood nursing his damaged wrist and
scowling at Judy's companion.

"Are you this girl's father?"

"I reckon I am," came the sullen reply. "I'm Jap Taylor, an' you-all
are sure goin' to find that you can't come between a man an' his lawful
child in these here mountains, mister,--if you-all be from the city."

"And you will find that you can't strike a crippled girl in my presence,
even if she is your daughter,--in these mountains or anywhere else,"
retorted Brian. "What are you trying to do with her, anyway?"

"I aim ter take her back home with me, where she belongs."

"Well, why didn't you go to the house for her like a man, instead of
jumping on her out here in the woods!"

"Hit ain't none of your dad burned business as I can see," came the
sullen reply.