rinning, or scowling,
according to individual moods, the roughs streamed out into the,
street.

Gridley boys steeled themselves for a conflict, hopeless in odds
of five to one!

At this point a clear voice sounded in the distance.

"A Company, left wheel, march!"

Around another corner near by came a company of boys from the
Fordham Military Institute. It was followed by a second company,
a third and a fourth.

Then, by a further series of commands, one company was sent, on
the double quick, to march ahead of the first stage, while another
company fell in behind the second stage, while the other companies
formed and marched on either side of the stages.

While these hasty maneuvers were being carried out the fine-looking
young cadet major of the battalion lifted his fatigue cap to Dick
Prescott.

"Captain," called the boyish major, "you gave us such a fine exhibition
of gentlemanly football that we beg leave to show our appreciation
by marching as your escort of honor to the station."

The rough crowd in the street had fallen back to the sidewalks,
a savage mutter going up at the same time.

The Military School boys were without arms, save those Nature
had given them, but they, marched in solid ranks and stood for
two hundred pairs of fists!

So Barnes's last hope of vengeance vanished. Even his own rough
followers turned to eye him in disgust.

Before they left the grounds some of the Military School boys
had heard a whisper or two of what Barnes planned.

The soldier is drilled to fair play, and to detestation of cowardice.
These young military students passed the word quickly. They
left the grounds at once, but formed near by, on a side street
near where they learned that Barnes and his rough mob lay in ambush.

"I declare, that's the neatest, most military thing I ever saw
done!" laughed Dave Darrin.

"And done by the boys you made fun of as sham West Pointers!"
laughed Dick quizzically.

"But I didn't mean it," protested Dave, growing very red. "These
are splendid fellows. Evidently they think that they, too, are
entitled to say a word or two about the good name of Fordham."

"You didn't like the first look of these fellows, Dave, because
they had started to cheer for Fordham High School. But did you
notice that they cheered no more for Fordham after Reade answered
Phin Drayne so forcibly."

"It's a fact that these men didn't boost any more for Fordham,"
assented Dave. "By the way, I