to back away in the direction of the street, but before they could
accomplish this the entire Spink crowd threw down their guns, rods
and bundles and advanced upon them.

"Keep back!" cried the doctor's son.

"If you hit us you'll take the consequences!" added Snap.

An instant later Ham Spink and his cohorts closed in. Snap and Shep
were caught, front and back, and several blows were quickly exchanged.
It was an uneven contest, and the doctor's son and his chum might
have fared badly had not a sudden cry rang out:

"Look at that, Giant! They are trying to maul Snap and Shep!" The
cry came from Whopper.

"Let up there!" added Will Caslette. And then, as small as he was,
he ran out on the dock and toward the center of the melee. Frank
came with him, and each caught one of the Spink faction by the arm
and swung him backward.

"Good! Here are the others!" panted Shep. "Give it to 'em, fellows;
they started it!"

The arrival of the pair somewhat disconcerted the Spink crowd, and
they stopped fighting. They were still six to four, but to handle
four was only half as easy as to handle two. The others looked
inquiringly at their leader.

"Give it to 'em!" muttered Ham; but even as he spoke he edged to the