"Here! Here, you old fool," growled Joe. "Do you call this the Brotherhood of Man?"
"Yes, my son, and specially the Fatherhood er G.o.d. The Lord chastens them he loveth!"
With a sudden twist the writhing figures fell in the sand, Tom on top pinning Joe down.
Joe fought with fierce strength to rise but it was no use.
Tom clutched his throat and choked him steadily into submission.
"I"m er man o" peace, Joe," he repeated.
"Yes, you are!" the bottom one growled.
"But when I mingles with the unregenerate, my son, I trusts in G.o.d an"
keeps my powder dry!"
"Let me up, you old fool!" Joe growled.
"Not yet, my son!" was the firm answer.
"You"ll get my dander up in a minute and some body"s goin" ter git hurt," warned the prostrate figure.
"Please make them quit," Barbara whispered tremblingly.
"Nonsense. They"re enjoying themselves," Norman softly laughed.
"What are you tryin" ter do anyhow?" whined Joe.
"I"m callin" a lost sinner to repentance," was the prompt answer.
"Lemme up, I tell ye," Joe yelled, struggling with desperation.
Tom choked him again into silence and seated himself comfortably across Joe"s stomach.
"Now, Joseph, my boy. I want you ter say over the catechism of the Brotherhood of Man. Hit"ll freshen yer mind an" be good fer yer soul----"
Another grim struggle interrupted the teacher.
"Say it after me: I believe in the fatherhood er G.o.d----"
Joe squirmed.
"Say it!"
Still no sound. Tom firmly gripped his throat and Joe gurgled:
"Fatherhood er G.o.d!"
"And brotherhood o" man!"
"Brotherhood er man!"
"Yer believe it now?" Tom fiercely asked.
Joe feebly a.s.sented.
Tom gripped his throat.
"Say it strong!"
"Yes--I believe it!" Joe confessed.
Again the under man struggled desperately and the man on top fiercely choked him into a quieter frame of mind.
"Now again: No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom er G.o.d!"
Joe repeated, "No drunkard--shall--what?"
"Inherit--the--kingdom--er G.o.d--by golly you"ve forgot yer Bible too!"
"Inherit--the--kingdom er--G.o.d!"
"Who shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d?"
"No drunkard!" Joe answered.
"Let that soak into yer lost soul!" Tom growled, pausing a moment.
"Now once more! Bear--ye--one--another"s burdens!"
Joe hesitated and the man on top b.u.mped the words out of him one at a time:
"Bear--ye--one--another"s--burdens!"
"An" ye"re goin" ter help me bear mine?" the teacher asked.
"Ain"t I a-doin" it now?" grumbled the man below.
"Well, once more then: Private property is theft!"
"That"s a lie an" you know it," Joe sneered.
"The big chief says so and it goes--say it!"
"Private property is theft," Joe repeated.
"Well, then, once more: Love--one--another!"
"Love one another," came the feeble echo.