“It’s Buck Looker and his crowd!” cried Jimmy. “I saw them when they ran under that arc light.”
“Just like that crowd to take us unawares,” said Bob. “But if they’re looking for a tussle we can accommodate them. Get busy, fellows, and let them have something in return for these two sockdolagers.”
They hastily gathered up several snowballs apiece, which were easily made because the snow was soft and packed readily, and ran toward the alleyway just in time to see Buck and his crowd emerging from their hiding place.
There was a spirited battle for a few minutes, each side making and receiving some smashing hits. Buck’s gang had the advantage in that they had a large number of missiles already prepared, and even in the excitement of the fight the radio boys noticed how unusually hard they were.
“Must have been soaking them in water until they froze,” grunted Jimmy, as one of them caught him close to the neck and made him wince.
As soon as their extra ammunition was exhausted and the contending forces in this respect were placed more on a footing of equality, Buck and his cronies began to give ground before the better aim and greater determination of Bob and his comrades.
“Give it to them, fellows!” shouted Bob, as the retreat of their opponents was rapidly becoming a rout.
At the moment he called out, the progress of the fight had brought the radio boys directly in front of the windows of one of the largest drygoods stores in the town.
In the light that came from the windows Bob saw a snowball coming directly for his head. He dodged, and——
Crash! There was the sound of splintering glass, and the snowy missile whizzed through the plate glass window!