CHAPTER IX
IN SELF-DEFENSE
“Look out, Dick; here’s trouble!” burst from the lips of Leslie Capes, as he saw the dim forms of several boys rushing toward him and his chum.
Neither of them seemed to think of turning and running away. Perhaps it was not in their natures to flee from such a visible danger as now confronted them; for a boy has a peculiar idea of what constitutes his sense of honor, and “showing the white feather” is usually considered next door to cowardly.
Besides, they easily guessed the identity of the fellows who aimed to attack them. In the first place they were three in number, and both Dick and Leslie remembered that Nat Silmore had had two of his cronies with him when ejected so forcibly from the Y. M. C. A. building.
It was true that the assailants had tried to conceal part of their faces with their handkerchiefs, a trick they may have learned from seeing it done in moving pictures of Western holdups. Dit had a peculiar way of hunching himself along as he ran, with one shoulder in advance of his body, and this trait was so well known to his schoolmates that Dick quickly recognized it now.
As has been said before, it was rather dark where the ambuscade had been laid. The bare bushes were dense, and several trees shut out such light as the stars dotting the sky overhead chanced to give.
Both boys drew themselves up in a position of self-defense. They had not done anything to invite this treacherous attack on the part of Nat’s crowd; and at the same time they scorned to flee, with the jeers of the enemy ringing in their ears.
Indeed, there was not much time given them to lay any elaborate plan of campaign. Hardly had they backed up against each other, so as to show a united front, than the enemy launched its attack.
Nat must have forgotten such lessons as he had learned on the football field, regarding the force and value of a “flying wedge,” for all of them came along in a string, each fellow for himself.
In that way it was easier for the two who were on the defensive to hold their ground. Both boys were fairly well versed in boxing, for athletics had always been a favorite amusement with them.