Twice Bart Hodge had the butt of his rifle against his shoulder, but lowered it without firing.
"He's gittin' the best of the red-headed feller!" panted Gallup.
"Of course!" nodded Ready. "Did you look for anything else to happen?"
"Them men don't like it much of enny."
"They do not seem greatly pleased."
"I bet they all go fer him if he does the red-head up."
"In which case," chirped Jack, "it will be our duty to insert a few lead pills into them."
Bart was not talking. He believed Frank in constant danger of a most deadly sort, and he was watching every move of the ruffians, ready to balk any attempt at treachery.
As Sam weakened Frank pressed him harder. The fellow believed Merry meant to kill him, if possible.
At length Merriwell caught Sam's blade with his own, gave it a sudden twist, and the fellow's knife was sent spinning through the air, to fall to the ground at a distance.