against overwhelming odds.

Right at the outset, however, a new note sounded.

"Go into it!" roared Tom Reade's voice. "Give 'em an old-fashioned
high school drubbing."

Three more figures hurled themselves into the fray. And now,
indeed, the battle raged. On the part of the high school boys
there was no longer any thought of retreat, though it was still
a matter of six men against five lads.

In the excitement of their friends' arrival, Dick and Dave were
able to wrench themselves free.

Though those on the defense were boys, they were boys of good
size, whose muscles had been hardened by regular training, as
well as by grilling work on the football field.

Reade, in his first onset, hit one of the tramps such a blow that
the fellow went to earth, where, though conscious, he preferred
to remain for a while. Then it was five against five. But Dan
soon got in a belt-line blow that put another tramp out of the
fight.

From the road the two scouts ran up. When they saw, however,
how the fight was going, they slunk off.

It was soon all but over. The boss tramp, however, armed with
a club, crept up behind Prescott, aiming a savage blow at his
head.

The blow would have landed, but for a new interruption.

With a cry that was more of a scream of alarm, old Reuben Hinman
threw himself forward into the fray. Both his lean arms were
wrapped around the tramp's legs.

Down came the tramp, just as Dick wheeled, falling heavily across
Reuben Hinman, knocking the breath from the peddler.

Tom and Dave seized the boss tramp, as he tried to get up, hurling
him back to the earth and sitting upon him.

"Let me up! Lemme go!" yelled the tramp.

"Keep cool," advised Tom. "You're likely to stay with us a while."

"Don't let him go," cried Prescott. "That wretch has all of Mr.
Hinman's money in his pockets."

"He'll give it up, then," guessed Reade.

"Come back here, you men!" roared the boss tramp, finding that
all his fellows had fled.

"Call 'em all you want," mocked Reade. "They won't come back.
They're too wise for that."

Dick, having given the order for the holding of the one tramp
who remained, now gave all his attention to Reuben Hinman.

"The poor old man must be rather badly hurt," Prescott declared.
"I can't get him to talk. Did you fellows bring a lantern with
you?"

The lantern was lit and brought forward.

"I don't know what the matter is with him," said Dick at last.
"But that's