Evidently, Cully was also knocked out, for he made no effort to rise.
Merriwell had seen Buckhart struck down. With a shout of fury, he smashed one of his antagonists a staggering blow, torn free from the other, whirled, and hurled himself upon the thug with the revolver.
“You whelp!” he said, seizing the fellow’s wrist and giving it a twist which caused him to drop the weapon.
Ditson and Wolfe were the two fellows who had come upon the waylaid boys from the rear. Like the thugs whom they had paid to assist them, they were masked and otherwise disguised. But they carried no weapons.
Duncan had made a bargain with the big man, Slugger Shea, who had proposed bringing along Cully as a companion.
Shea had ridiculed the idea that the boys might put up a fight. It was his belief that he could scare any two Yale men blue, and relieve them of their valuables without assistance. Still, he acknowledged that Cully would come in handy to go through the pockets of the victims. Besides that, Slugger had a friendly feeling for Cully, and he wanted his friend to share in the profits of the job. It was understood, however, that, under any circumstances, the two ruffians should be paid five dollars apiece, and they agreed to give up to their employers whatever papers, letters, or other documents they might secure.
Dunc and Bern had decided that it would be well enough for them to take a hand in the business, as they could then make certain of getting possession of such plunder as they desired. Besides that, they fancied Merriwell and Buckhart would be doubly frightened on finding themselves trapped between two fires. But the boys had upset the calculations of these rascals by unexpectedly showing resistance.
“Good gracious!” gasped Wolfe, in dismay. “Hadn’t we better hit the high places, Dunc? The police—that shot is liable to——”
“Buckhart is down and out!” hissed Ditson. “Give a hand here! We’ll have Merriwell down in a jiffy!”
Again he hurled himself on Dick’s back. He did this just as Merriwell, having secured a Japanese wrestling hold on Slugger Shea, sent the big ruffian sprawling.