e," he cried, looking over the fellow's
shoulder. "Nab him."

The man turned in alarm to see who was behind him, and at the same
instant Fred dived for his legs in a flying tackle that brought him to
the ground. It was a splendid tackle, but the man was big and heavy,
and, as they struck the ground, his knee drove into Fred's chest and
knocked the breath out of him.

In another second, the other boys could have launched themselves upon
the tramp, and their united strength would have been able to hold him
down until the arrival of the officer. This had been Fred's idea when he
had made the tackle. But his mind worked so much more quickly and his
action had been so swift, that they did not at once grasp the situation.
And when they did, it was too late.

The tramp, desperate now, got on his feet and rushed at them with his
blackjack. Before that deadly weapon they scattered. The next instant,
he was running toward the shelter of the woods. Fred still lay gasping
for breath, and, not knowing how badly he might have been hurt, his
chums rushed to help him to his feet.

He was white and shaken, but had sustained no injury beside the
temporary loss of breath. In a few minutes he was as good as ever. But
by this time the tramp had made good his escape.

Presently Teddy came up with the constable and a careful search of the
woods was made. But it was all to no purpose.

"Hard luck, old scout," condoled Lester, "but that flying tackle of
yours was a dandy."

"That knee of his was better," mourned Fred. "It knocked me out good and
proper."

"You threw an awful scare into him, anyway," laughed Bill. "I'll bet
he's running yet."

"He can't always get away with it," prophesied Teddy. "That's twice. The
next time will be the third time and out."

They got back to the school tired and vexed. But their thoughts were
turned in another and a welcome direction by a tip given them by Slim
Haley on their return.

"Big feed on," he whispered. "Ned Wayland's uncle sent him a ten-dollar
gold piece for his birthday, and Ned has blown nearly all of it for a
spread in the dormitory to-night."

"Best news I've heard since Hector was a pup," exulted Teddy.

"Ned's the real goods," said Fred. "I wish he had a birthday every
month."

It was hard for the occupants of Dormitory Number Three to keep their
minds on their lessons during the study period that followed supper, and
it was with a whoop and a bang that they rushed into their