"I think I have something to say about that!" exclaimed Cranch. "I won’t go! You can’t make me!"
"Oh, I think we can!" said Big Bob. "That doesn’t worry us a bit."
"I’ll raise a disturbance! Do you think I’ll go without a fight? Well, you’ve made a mistake! I’ll yell for help now if you do not set me free at once! I’ll bring the faculty of the academy down upon you!"
They looked at one another, and then, of a sudden, as if by a single impulse, three of them leaped upon him. He was tripped and flung to the floor, being held there.
"Kneel on his arms!" commanded Dick Merriwell. "Hold his hands while I fix this!"
He had taken out a handkerchief.
"Help!" shouted Cranch, his voice echoing hollowly in the room.
Over his mouth the handkerchief was placed. He struggled to keep them from fastening it there, but two more knelt and held his head. Dick was skilful and rapid in his work. Soon the captive’s roars for help were muffled and smothered, but Dick called for another handkerchief, which he bound over the first.
Cranch began to realize that he was in a decidedly serious scrape, and he grew frightened at last.
"Bring cords of some kind," commanded Dick. "We’ve got to tie his hands behind him, to keep him from snatching the gag away from his mouth."