Rattleton was somewhat slower than the others in starting, and he soon found one of the policemen was close upon him. "Stop!" cried the officer. "Go to thunder!" flung back Harry. "Stop, I tell yer!" "Save your wind! You can't catch me in a thousand years." "Can't?" Whiz--something flew through the air. It struck Harry between the shoulders, knocking him forward on his hands and knees. Then the officer pounced upon him, picking up his stick, which he had flung at the boy. "Oh, I've got yer!" grated the policeman. "I'll teach yer to be tearin' down an' shiftin' round people's signs! I saw yer when yer pulled down the sign in front of the Chinese laundry, and the charge'll be larceny. We're goin' to fix some of you frisky students." The police had been sore ever since their ineffectual attempt to get upon the campus and arrest the students who were parading with the horns captured from the band. Word had gone the rounds among the students that the "cops" were watching for an opportunity to retaliate. Evidently this policeman fancied his opportunity had come. Larceny! Harry realized the full meaning of the charge, and he knew it would go hard with him if he were convicted. Thoughts of making a desperate effort to slip out of his coat, and leave it in the officer's clutch, flashed through his head; but the blow of the club had knocked the wind out of him, and, just then, he did not have the strength to make the effort. Where were the others? Had they all escaped? Had they abandoned him? "Git up!" ordered the policeman, releasing his grip on Harry a bit, in order to change his hold. Swish! thump! bump! A dark body came out of the shadows and struck the policeman with the force of a catapult. The officer was hurled through the air, his hold on Harry being broken. He struck the stone paving heavily. A hand fastened on Rattleton's collar, a strong arm jerked him to his feet, a familiar voice hissed in his ear: "Run!" It was Merriwell! Harry's heart leaped as he realized that. Frank had not deserted him. Frank never deserted a friend. Rattleton was somewhat dazed, but Merriwell's hand directed him, and away they sped. They heard the policeman behind them, heard him shout breathlessly for them to stop, but they had no thought of obeying. Into a narrow space between two buildings plunged Frank, telling Harry to follow. Merriwell came to a gate, but he seemed to see it, for all of the intense darkness. "Over here!" he called to Harry. They heard the policeman plunge in behind them. Over the gate they scrambled, not daring to pause long enough to find the way it was fastened. Out into a back yard they dashed, hearing the officer run into the gate and grunt as he was flung backward. There was a high fence around the yard, and it seemed that they might be in a trap. Frank felt for a clothesline and found it. He seemed to see in the dark. "Over the fence, Harry--over the fence!" he whispered. "Come on!" "In a moment."