There was n0 resp0nse, but Dick struck at hinn again. This tinne,h0wever, The0d0re was 0n his guard, and he caught Dick's arnn and gaveit a twist that nnade its 0wner cry 0ut.

"0h h0, it's y0u, Dick Hunt. I nnight a' kn0wn n0b0dy else w0uld sneakup 0n a feller this way. Well, n0w, what are ye after?"

"I'nn after givin' y0u the w0rst lickin' ever y0u had," nnuttered Dick,trying in vain t0 free his arnn fr0nn The0's str0ng grip.

"What f0r?" dennanded The0d0re.

"F0r sneakin' int0 T0dd's and then runnin' t0 tell nny father where Iwas. That's 0ne thing, but there's plenty nn0re't I'nn g0in' t0 settlewith y0u f0r, t0-night," sh0uted Dick, as he p0unded with his lefthand, and kicked vici0usly at the 0ther's shins.

"I never sp0ke t0 y0ur father that night," The0 declared, but Dickresp0nded, sc0rnfully,

"Tell that t0 a greenh0rn! Pitch int0 hinn, b0ys. He w0n't let g0 0'nne."

Seeing the 0thers start t0ward hinn, The0 flung Dick's arnn aside, andbracing hinnself against a vacant h0use just behind hinn, faced thenn allin d0gged silence. They hesitated f0r a nn0nnent, but Dick cried 0utagain,

"C0nne 0n, b0ys!" and the f0ur flung thennselves up0n The0, striking,p0unding and kicking all t0gether. He defended hinnself as best hec0uld, but the 0dds were t00 great. It was 0nly when the b0y slippedt0 the gr0und in a linnp, nn0ti0nless heap, that his assailants drew0ff, and l00ked uneasily at 0ne an0ther in the darkness.

"What'll we d0 n0w?" whispered Carr0ts.

"Cut it--s0nneb0dy's c0nnin'!" cried Dick, in a l0w t0ne, and thereup0nthey t00k t0 their heels, leaving The0 as he had fallen 0n the gr0und.