“You’ll get your wish, all right,” added Bud Bradley, shoving forward belligerently. “Let’s take Carson down and throw him in the river, fellows!” This proposal was greeted with high delight on the part of the town group. The Clippers began to move forward, and Merriwell saw that a conflict was imminent. “You’d better go slow,” he advised the Carson crowd. “We’re not forcing any battle, remember. Keep back there, Bradley. If they start it, let them take the consequences.” “We’ve got ’em scared already,” jeered Squint Fletcher. “Leave that Merriwell kid to me. I’ll handle him!” “Yes, you won’t!” piped up Chub Newton. “Yah! L-l-lambaste ’em, Bil-l-ly!” Chub’s shrill cry was the last straw. Carson emitted a furious roar and raised his bat, while his team began crowding forward. The group around Merry closed in compactly, and it looked as if there would surely be a fight. At that instant, however, a brawny man shoved in between the two parties. Squint Fletcher was just aiming a blow, and the man seized him by the shoulders and flung him back, sending him into Carson with a thump. “That’s enough o’ this!” roared the town constable, for the man was no other. “I been keepin’ my eye on you, Fletcher. Clear out o’ here, the bunch of you.” “What right have you got to interfere?” cried Carson angrily. “I’ll have my father----” “You shut up, or I’ll pinch you!” exclaimed the constable hotly. “I don’t care for either you or your dad. I’m constable o’ this town. Git out, now, and do it lively, or I’ll run the lot o’ you in! Jump!” He pulled forth his club. Seeing that he meant business, Carson flung a sullen look around, nodded to his gang, and they melted away. The constable turned to Merry. “Much obliged,” said Chip, smiling. “We were afraid they meant trouble.” “So they did,” growled the constable. “You’d better let ’em simmer down.” “We will,” said Billy. The group was just breaking up when Merriwell halted them. “One minute, everybody. What do you say to getting a game with the Clippers this Saturday? I believe it’s an open date; I can pitch, and if you’re willing to work between now and then, we can give them a run for their money!” “Whoop!” A yell of delight burst from every throat. “Bully for you!” cried Spaulding, grabbing Merry’s hand and pumping it. “No, us fer Bully!” said McCarthy. “You bet we will!” “Can you get a team together?” asked Chip. “If you can, meet at Billy’s house to-night and talk things over.” “We can get everything but a first baseman,” said Bud Bradley, thinking quickly. “Well, maybe I can take care of that,” said Merry. He remembered that Owen Clancy was at Fardale, and his chum could be induced to come to Carsonville. “So long, then. Billy and I will get the game, and we’ll expect you right after supper. Bring all the fellows you can get, and we’ll start practice work in the morning.”