"What do you mean by that?" he demanded.

"I told you to let the boy alone and I meant it," said Hal quietly.

For answer the Frenchman struck at him. Hal dodged the blow and stepped
back. He would have avoided a fight if possible. But the Frenchman
stepped after him and struck again. Again Hal dodged and the blow passed
harmlessly over his head. The lad struck out quickly with his right and
caught the Frenchman a hard blow upon the side of the neck. Big man
though he was, the Frenchman toppled over. Hal walked back to where he
had left Chester, donned his coat and the two moved away.

Behind them, as the big Frenchman staggered to his feet there was a howl
of merriment. The Frenchman shook a fist angrily at Hal's back.




CHAPTER V

THE BLACK PEAS


The howling without continued when Hal and Chester reached their
own quarters.

"Well, you've made another enemy, Hal," said Chester.

"Can't help that," was his chum's reply. "It had to be done. By the way,
I wonder what's happened to Stubbs?"