But another swarthy fellow appeared and sought to seize the boy, while still one held fast to the girl.
Nadia, however, managed to get her mouth clear of the smothering hand that had been pressed over it.
She uttered a scream.
That cry was answered by a roar in the voice of Brad Buckhart, who was fighting his way through the crowd.
As the second ruffian reached for him, Dick managed by an agile twist and dodge to escape the fellow’s hand. Then he tripped the man and went at the one who was seeking to force Nadia into the carriage.
“Drop her, you cur!” he palpitated.
This fellow, who was the biggest one of the trio, flung the girl into the arms of yet another, then whirled on Dick, whipping out a knife.
The giant made a quick, forward, ripping stroke with the knife.
Again Merriwell’s quickness on his feet saved him, for he squirmed aside so that the blade of the knife simply pierced the loose part of his coat that swung from him when he made that rapid movement.
The next instant Dick seized the dark man’s hand with his left hand, held it firm, struck sharply with the lower edge of his right hand, which landed on the other’s wrist.