Spoon River Anthology Part 23

Then, as if struck by lightning, vanished all The strength from hog--eyed Allen, at his side Sank limp those giant arms and o'er his face Dread pallor and the sweat of anguish spread.

And those great knees, invincible but late, Shook to his weight. And quickly as the lion Leaps on its wounded prey, did Bengal Mike Smite with a rock the temple of his foe, And down he sank and darkness o'er his eyes Pa.s.sed like a cloud.

As when the woodman fells Some giant oak upon a summer's day And all the songsters of the forest shrill, And one great hawk that has his nestling young Amid the topmost branches croaks, as crash The leafy branches through the tangled boughs Of brother oaks, so fell the hog--eyed one Amid the lamentations of the friends Of A. D. Blood.

Just then, four l.u.s.ty men Bore the town marshal, on whose iron face The purple pall of death already lay, To Trainor's drug store, shot by Jack McGuire.

And cries went up of "Lynch him!" and the sound Of running feet from every side was heard Bent on the

THE END