"Here comes that soldier-loafer, Overton, now. And his friend with him." "Now's your chance to take it out, Bunny!" prodded one of the gang. "Fellows," declared Bunny earnestly, "it's the chance for all of us to take it out of that pair! Think how often the regulars have fired into honest, hard-working men!" By that designation Bunny referred to rioters. "There's two of them, and they hain't got no guns or bayonets this time," Bunny Hepburn continued hoarsely. "How many are there of us?" "Twelve," replied another, "not counting Skinny Carroll." "Skinny can work at his old game of lookout," muttered Bunny. "Get busy, Skinny." Skinny was an undersized, weazened little fellow, with a large, badly-shaped head and an extremely bright pair of keen, fox-like eyes. Many a time had he been lookout against the coming of the police, while stronger, harder-handed companions carried out some piece of violence against law and order. With a chuckle Skinny promptly turned and fled to the next corner, where he could watch four ways at once. Bunny's companions found themselves committed to a new deed before they quite realized it. "My pop has often told you fellows all about the soldiers," went on Bunny quickly. "Now, we've got a chance to settle one score for labor. We'll sail into that pair like a ton of brick. Use 'em up! Don't be gentle, or turn faint-hearted! Remember, there's enough of us to swear to a good 'frame-up' if this thing gets into court. Don't be chicken-hearted or white-livered! Line up, the bunch of you!" Hal and Noll, as they strolled along the side street, saw the little group ahead. It was an unimportant street, devoted to business in the day-time. Neither of the Army boys distinguished Bunny, who kept himself well concealed behind the other idlers until Hal and Noll had reached the gang. Then Bunny threw himself forward. "Yah! yah!" he snarled. "Get me thrown out of me job, will you, you soldier-loafer!" "Hullo, it's Bunny!" cried Hal, recognizing the speaker. "Yep! It's me--Bunny Hepburn!" jeered the ex-waiter. "But you won't know what your name is when I get through with you!" "Bosh!" rejoined Hal, rather impatiently. "Step aside. Don't block the sidewalk. It's broad enough for us all!" "You don't sneak out of it that easy!" jeered Bunny. "Behave yourself, and let me by," requested Hal Overton sternly. He tried to push the noisy fellow out of his path. Bunny, with the strength of the gang behind him, swung a hard blow at the Army boy's face. In self-defense Hal Overton was obliged to fend off the blow. But Bunny came back at him again. "Sail into the soldier-loafers!" called Bunny. Wolf-like, the gang attacked in a pack, and on all sides at once. It didn't take Noll Terry an instant to see that this was serious business. Without a word Noll sprang back to back with Hal, and thus they met the onslaught. In the crowd there were some hard-hitters, and the odds were tremendous.