“You’ll get yours, too!” declared the leader of the thugs. “Next to Merriwell, it will give me pleasure to knock the wind out of you!” “So this is really the sort of ruffian you are!” spoke Merry cuttingly. “You were called the ‘gentleman pugilist.’ Gentleman, indeed! Why, you’re just a common ruffian!” “Go ahead!” cried Manton. “The more you talk like that the more delight I shall take in beating you up.” “You proved yourself a sneak at Eagle Heights. You brought disgrace on your own head.” “Yah! I was a member in good standing until you came.” “And then, out of a desire to show off, you led yourself into the most disreputable business. But I’m surprised to see Dent Frost and Jack Necker with you. I hardly looked for them to be in such company. Is it possible that they are chaps of the same caliber?” Frost frowned, while Necker looked a trifle ill at ease. “Oh, I have something to settle with you, too!” asserted the pole vaulter. “I ought to have!” exclaimed the jumper. “Well, you are fine sports, to be sure!” scornfully flung back Frank. “You were fairly and honorably defeated, and now you come here to beat me up for it! I understood that the Eagle Heights A.A. was made up of gentlemen! I don’t understand how you ever got into it.” “Manton is our friend,” said Frost. “That’s it!” Necker hastily cried. “He has been treated in a shabby manner, and you are the cause of it. He is our friend.” “You should be proud to own him as such!” sneered Bart. “Another one for you!” growled Manton. “Come on, fellows.” “Wait a moment!” exclaimed Frank, flinging up his hand. “What do you think will be the end of this? If you don’t kill us here and now, I promise to land you three in prison for assault with intent to kill. I mean you, Manton, you, Frost, and you, Necker. I know you. You were fools to come here with your thugs. The evidence against you will be overwhelming. You’ll go to prison, every one of you!” “Bah! He’s trying to frighten you, boys,” said Manton. “He thinks he can bluff us.” “I promise the remainder of the gang that I shall make it pretty warm for them. I seldom forget a face I have once seen, and I’ve been looking them all over. I’ll spend a year, if necessary, in running this gang down and giving each one the full strength of the law.” “Don’t pay any attention to him!” howled Manton. “He always makes a bluff. Fly at him!” The thugs muttered among themselves and advanced, gripping their clubs. They spread out to intercept Merry and Bart if the intended victims sought to run away. “Got to fight ’em, Merry!” hissed Hodge. “Got to, Bart!” was the answer. They placed themselves back to back, in order to defend themselves as best they could. Jack Necker was hesitating. Manton appealed to him. “Come on, Jack!” he cried. “Get into it!” Necker threw down his club. “Not I!” he exclaimed. “I’ve changed my mind.” “What?” snarled Manton. “What ails you?” “I’ve changed my mind.” “You’re afraid! You’re a quitter!”