“It is no more than right that you should tell me why you have arrested my friend, sir,” he said.
“Ho! ho!” cried the sheriff. “So he is your friend! I thought as much! Well, don’t you get too frisky, or I may take a notion to arrest you, too.”
“Such a thing would be an outrage, and I believe you have perpetrated an outrage in arresting Mr. Hodge.”
“I don’t care what you think!”
“At the same time, I see no reason why you should refuse to tell me why you have arrested him.”
“Jive him gesse—I mean give him Jesse!” fluttered Rattleton, as he sought Frank’s side. “You know we will stand by you, old man. If you say the word, we’ll take Hodge away from him.”
Bill Higgins’ ears were sharp, and he caught the words. Like a flash he whipped out a huge revolver, which he held in a menacing manner, while he growled:
“Thirteen may be an unlucky number, but skin me if I don’t make it thirteen or more if you chaps tries the trick!”
He looked as if he meant what he said.
“Steady, fellows,” warned Merriwell, as the boys gathered at his back, ready for anything. “Don’t be hasty.”