The girls and Dick had been startled by the sounds, and now Merriwell came running up the path. June and Zona followed.
When Dick reached the struggling boys he found Hal holding Chet down, and was in time to see Darrell lifting his clinched fist. With a leap he seized Darrell’s fist and prevented the blow.
“Hold on, Hal!” he exclaimed. “Don’t hit him!”
June saw her brother and uttered a cry of alarm as she ran forward.
“The spy! The sneak!” grated Darrell.
“Let me up!” panted Arlington.
“Don’t! don’t—don’t strike my brother!” burst from June’s lips.
“The girls, Hal—think of the girls!” urged Dick.
“He jumped on me!” declared Chester. “He jumped on my back!”
“You liar!” hissed Darrell.