Payne studied the men as he approached them. They were dressed in tourist apparel, but their hard faces belied their clothes. Each carried a cane, but the thick hands that held them would have appeared more at home gripping a blackjack or a revolver. The largest of the trio, a hard-faced man with thin lips, studiously placed himself across Roger's path. "Well," he said, with the snarl of the city tough in his tones, "what can we do for you?" Roger choked down the rage that lept for mastery in his breast and said calmly: "You can explain your insolence to begin with." "Don't come that--don't try to come that on us, kid! You ain't dealing with no crackers now. What do you want, huh?" The hot blood flush passed from Roger; he felt himself growing comfortably cool; and within he laughed silently. "No," he said softly, "I can see that you aren't crackers. What jail held you last?" The stranger swore foully, a string of oaths that reeked with the stench of corner saloons. He pushed his hat far back upon his round head, looked Roger up and down contemptuously, and swore some more. "Know who you're talking to?" he demanded. "Better get wise, you----" Again he polluted the air with his foulness. Roger waited until the stream of filth had ceased. "Are you going to explain what you're doing here?" he asked. "Am--I? Am I going to explain? Hell! Are you going to explain, you mean." "Yes," said Roger, and leaped forward. Even Higgins whooped in surprise at the swiftness of the spring. Before the stranger could move Roger was close to him. His right fist swung from far behind caught the man full on the solar plexus, literally lifted him off the spoil bank and knocked him into the water of the ditch. The other two strangers, heavy-jowled toughs, had sprung to meet Payne. One Roger staggered with a left swing on the ear; the other grappled his legs. This man Higgins rewarded with a kick which would have shattered a thinner skull to bits. Then two separate fights raged up and down the spoil bank. Instantly Roger and Higgins realized that they had their hands full. Payne ran into a body punch which made him realize that his opponent was nearly his equal. Higgins was knocked down at once, bounding up like a rubber ball and cheering the man who struck him. "That was a peach, that one!" he roared, and returned the compliment. The man rose, knocked Higgins down again and jumped on him. "Rough and tumble it is!" cried Higgins, and grappled with bear-like arms.