He slipped aside, raising a cloud of dust as he did so, and tried to trip his opponent. Bully staggered and lost his balance, and, as his arm flew out wide, Billy Mac stepped in and his fist went out. Again there came a sharp crack as the blow landed. The big fellow, struck fairly on the angle of the jaw below the ear, shivered, and then went reeling across the street. He pulled up at the fence, clinging to it desperately. “Yah! He’s scared out!” cried Chub. So, indeed, it seemed. The blow had not been hard enough to knock him out, yet he made no offer to return to the fight. Instead, he raised his fist and shook it menacingly. “You’ll suffer for this!” he exclaimed. “You wait till I see dad!” “Yah!” shrilled Chub Newton, dancing wildly. “Go put a muffl-l-ler on your new cl-l-lothes, Bully Carson!” Bully moved off, evidently sick of the encounter. Since it was plainly over, the spectators drifted away, and Chub Newton thanked his rescuer. Billy Mac introduced him to Frank Merriwell, junior, but seemed to have little delight in his victory. “Now I am in for it, and no mistake!” he exclaimed, looking after the big fellow. “Why?” “Didn’t you notice the resemblance?” “Well, yes. And I heard Chub call him Bully Carson----” “Yes, that’s his usual nickname. He is Colonel Carson’s son, Chip. And I guess you can see that I’ve done a pretty bad morning’s work for the McQuade family.” CHAPTER IV. COLONEL CARSON’S REVENGE. “I’m awful-l-ly gl-l-lad to meet you! Bil-l-ly’s tol-l-ld me a l-l-lot about Chip Merriwel-l-l!” “We seem to have come along just right,” said Merry, shaking hands with Chub. “But we’d better get home, Billy Mac. We seem to attract a good deal of attention in these running togs.” Billy Mac nodded. “Sure. You’d better come with me, Chub. We’ll go down to the swimming hole near the house and have a plunge.” Chub looked disappointed. “I’m sorry, fel-l-lows, but I can’t. I’m workin’ at the grocery, you know, and I got to get orders this morning. I’l-l-l see you l-l-later, though.” “You come down to the swimming hole,” offered Billy quickly, “and I’ll help you make up for lost time by covering this street and taking orders.” “Wil-l-l you, honest!” cried Chub! “Oh, hurray! Watch me go!” “Well, chase along to the river, then. We’ll get our duds and be right down.” Chub went capering off at full speed, while Chip and Billy trotted off to the McQuade home. Here they secured their clothes and towels, saying nothing to Mrs. McQuade of what had happened that morning. Billy was full of fears, but he forced them down in her presence. He did not want to worry his mother unnecessarily. When they left the house to get to the river, they passed a corner of the orchard. It was bright with blossoms, whose scent came sweetly on the breeze, and Billy jerked his head toward the gnarled trees. “I’d hate to see those trees piling up an income for Colonel Carson, Merry.” Chip Merriwell nodded in comprehension.