Accordingly, as the fair-haired boy made his suggestion of charging, Sandow whispered: "Better make a wedge. You run in the lead, Cotton-Top, and Buttons and I will shove you along." To decide upon their line of action took the boys less time than it does to describe it, and no sooner had the suggestion of the wedge been made than the trio charged. This move surprised Bart, for he it was. So eager was he to fall upon his rival, that, in his excitement, his voice, when he gave the word of the boys' approach, had been louder than he realized. Moreover, his plan of attack, thoroughly in keeping with his nature, had been to fall upon Fred and his companions from the rear. In consequence, when he heard the thudding of their footsteps, the bully lost his head. "Out at them! Get Fred!" he snarled, leaping from his hiding place onto the sidewalk, as he spoke. Either because they had other ideas of how they should proceed, or because the suddenness of their intended victims' action paralyzed them, Bart's followers did not immediately obey. And their delay was their leader's undoing. With great force, Fred, backed by Buttons and Sandow, struck the lone boy on the sidewalk, bowling him over as though he were a tenpin. "There's no one else ahead," exclaimed Fred. "Guess we were too quick for 'em. No use running any more." The impetus of his companions was such, however, that though the boy at the head of the wedge stopped running, as he spoke, the others carried him along for several yards. "That was too easy," grunted Buttons, in evident disappointment. "Never mind, I reckon we shook Bart up some," chuckled Sandow. "Let's keep going while we have the chance." "What, run away from Bart Montgomery?" snorted Fred. "Tut, tut! There's discretion in valor, Cotton-Top. Just take my advice and get home as fast as you can." "But I'm not going to run," protested Fred. "Sure not. We'll just go up Main Street. The lights are still on and Bart won't try any funny business on a street where he can be recognized." As in many other country towns, only the principal street of Baxter was provided with street lamps and--because of the hard-headed economy of the "Town Fathers" even these lamps were only lighted when the night was dark. "Sandow is right," agreed Buttons, after a moment's reflection. "But it looks as though I were afraid," protested Fred. "Fiddlesticks! You don't need to prove your courage," returned Sandow. "Everybody in school admits that. So come along and go the way we want you to." With evident reluctance, Fred finally yielded, and the trio turned their steps toward Main Street, which they reached without further sight or sound of Bart and his companions. The route of the three chums took them past the building of the First National Bank. Dismissing the unsuccessful attack by tacit understanding, the boys were discussing the formation of the Second Form football team, when Fred chanced to glance toward the bank building.