'frame-up' if this thing gets into court. Don't be
chicken-hearted or white-livered! Line up, the bunch of you!"

Hal and Noll, as they strolled along the side street, saw the little
group ahead. It was an unimportant street, devoted to business in the
day-time. Neither of the Army boys distinguished Bunny, who kept himself
well concealed behind the other idlers until Hal and Noll had reached
the gang. Then Bunny threw himself forward.

"Yah! yah!" he snarled. "Get me thrown out of me job, will you, you
soldier-loafer!"

"Hullo, it's Bunny!" cried Hal, recognizing the speaker.

"Yep! It's me--Bunny Hepburn!" jeered the ex-waiter. "But you won't know
what your name is when I get through with you!"

"Bosh!" rejoined Hal, rather impatiently. "Step aside. Don't block the
sidewalk. It's broad enough for us all!"

"You don't sneak out of it that easy!" jeered Bunny.

"Behave yourself, and let me by," requested Hal Overton sternly.

He tried to push the noisy fellow out of his path. Bunny, with the
strength of the gang behind him, swung a hard blow at the Army boy's
face.

In self-defense Hal Overton was obliged to fend off the blow. But Bunny
came back at him again.

"Sail into the soldier-loafers!" called Bunny.

Wolf-like, the gang attacked in a pack, and on all sides at once. It
didn't take Noll Terry an instant to see that this was serious business.
Without a word Noll sprang back to back with Hal, and thus they met the
onslaught.

In the crowd there were some hard-hitters, and the odds were tremendous.

On the other hand, Hal and Noll were no mean boxers. They had gained
their skill with their fists in many a brisk garrison bout with the
gloves. Moreover, both Army boys possessed the advantage of soldierly
courage and discipline.

So, for a few moments, though they took some blows, yet they managed to
keep off the wolf-pack fairly well.

Hal Overton's blood was up now, and he was dangerous. Watching his
chance he let fly a blow that caught Bunny forcefully on the nose.

"Wow-ow-ow! O-o-oh!" wailed Bunny, trying to find shelter behind one of
his companions. "The soldier-loafer is trying to kill me. Wade into him,
fellers! Get him down and----"

At that moment Hal, with Noll at his back, worked through the line and
caught Bunny over his left eye with a force that sent the noisy one down
to the sidewalk.

"Get up, you cur!" ordered Hal.

For a moment the members of the gang on Overton's side of the