What with all the row connected with their rush, the cowardly
assailants were themselves unable to hear the patter of
swiftly-approaching footsteps, coming from the rear. They evidently
shouted, in order to keep their courage up, and prevent Ralph from
recognizing any one particular voice.

The beleaguered boy was himself fighting like a cat at bay. He had
no positive assurance that friends were near, and with so many
eager hands striving to reach his face and body, he had to
retaliate, giving blow for blow.

Once he managed to dash his clenched fist into the face of a
fellow who, in his eagerness, had rushed in too close.

"Wow!" bellowed the stricken party, and somehow it seemed to Ralph
that the voice was that of Tony Gilpin.

More than once he was himself the recipient of blows, some severe
and others of a glancing nature. For a brief period of time there
was a constant maelstrom of hands flying back and forth,
accompanied with shouts, jeers and grunts.

"Oh, you cowards!" called Ralph, as a blow struck him on the back
of the head, and almost stunned him for a second; one of the
crowd, not daring to face the boy at bay, having crept alongside
the tree to watch his chance.

He could easily believe that this was Asa Barnes. Immediately a
mad desire possessed him to pounce upon that sneak and return the
blow with interest. Despite the array of threatening fists that