Quickly the others turned, but so heavy were the shadows, that they were unable to distinguish the forms. "How many did you see?" queried Sandow. "Six." "Recognize any of 'em?" "Too dark." The presence of six boys, who evidently did not wish to allow their faces to be seen, on the street so late suggested but one idea to all of the young people--that Bart was planning to waylay his rival, as he returned from taking Margie home. "H'm. Guess we'll all walk home with you, Margie," observed Sandow. The girl, however, had been doing some rapid thinking. "Oh, I'm not going home to-night," she exclaimed, giving her chum's arm a significant pinch as she spoke, "I'm going to stay with Grace." "What did you want to scare Marg for, Sandow?" snapped Fred, in none too pleasant a tone. "He didn't scare me," flashed the girl. But in her heart she knew that only fear for Fred would have persuaded her not to go home. "Your mother will be worried," asserted the boy. "I'll telephone her." All the others were relieved at this solution of the difficulty, for they were fond of Fred, and they understood, all too well, the significance of their being followed. "Why won't all you girls stay at my house to-night?" asked Grace. "Sister's away, so there'll be plenty of room. You can telephone, you know." For a moment, Sallie hesitated. But a nudge from Sandow caused her to acquiesce. This arrangement decided upon, the young people resumed their way. After leaving the girls at Grace's home, the boys walked to the Vinings' with Bronson, and then started back. But not more than ten yards had they walked from the gate, when they heard a hoarse cry: "Here they come!" CHAPTER X AN EVENTFUL WALK To the three boys, this cry was not surprising. Indeed, they had been expecting an attack ever since Buttons had espied the six figures sneaking through the shadows, and their only amazement was that they had been allowed to escort the girls and Bronson to their homes, without interference. "Quick, link arms! Lower your heads, and we'll dash through them!" whispered Sandow. "Use your elbows, like you do in football." "Strike hard and low," added Buttons. "They mean business--or they wouldn't have waited till we got the girls home." Instinctively, each boy squared his shoulders at this voicing of the thoughts that had been uppermost in their minds, ever since they learned they were being followed. "That's certain enough or there wouldn't be six of them to only three of us," returned Sandow. "Crouch down, and we may be able to upset 'em." "I say charge 'em," breathed Fred. "Bart'll expect us to back up against the fence. So if we run hard, we can break through them." That the rich bully was the leader of their pursuers, neither Sandow nor Buttons doubted. But, knowing his disposition, they feared the methods he might adopt under cover of darkness, realizing the attack would centre on Fred.