Almost immediately the freshmen were on the defensive, doing their best to retain their hats and canes. Frank singled out Hock Mason, believing the best course was to engage his entire attention without delay. He was urging the freshmen on, and no one seemed to stand before him. With all the nerve he could command, putting all his strength and skill into the effort, Merriwell went at Mason. He came upon the fellow like a tornado. Frank did not try slugging tactics, but he caught Mason's cane with both hands, and, giving it a twist and a whirl, snapped the big freshman into the air and fairly flung him over his shoulder, tearing away the cane. It is possible that never before in all his life had Hock Mason been handled in such a summary manner. He struck the ground with a thump, bewildered beyond measure by what had happened, for he had not dreamed any man at Yale could handle him that way, even if he were taken by surprise. But Mason was not hurt in the least, and he was furious. Laughing triumphantly, Frank Merriwell spun the cane into the air and caught it with the skill of a baton-thrower when it came down. Roaring like an enraged lion, Hock Mason scrambled to his feet. Somebody gave Merriwell a push from behind, nearly throwing him down, and Mason struck him behind the ear. It was one of the giant freshman's sledge-hammer blows, and Frank dropped like a log. "Cuss ye!" snarled the bully. "I'll fix ye!" The brute in his nature was aroused, and he kicked the fallen lad in the ribs with his toe. "Shame! shame!" cried a score of voices. Bruce Browning, with a roar of rage, tried to reach the brutal fellow, but Jack Diamond was quicker. Jack had torn a heavy cane from a freshman, and now he wielded it, butt foremost, with all the strength he could command. Whack! The blow might have been heard anywhere on the campus. It fell just where the furious Virginian had intended it should--across the side of Mason's head and behind his ear! The fellow who had stood on his feet before the blows of the policemen's clubs now fell as if he had been shot, pitching headlong over Frank Merriwell. Frank sat up, still grasping the cane he had captured from the bully. Jack caught his hand and pulled him to his feet. Hock Mason lay at full length on the ground, gasping for breath. "He's dying!" cried somebody, horrified. The rush was over, freshmen and juniors stopped struggling in a moment, and all gathered around the spot where the giant lay. His heavy rasping breathing was terrifying. "He is dying, Diamond!" whispered Browning, in Jack's ear. "I don't care!" returned the Virginian, passionately. "But think--think what that means!"