Crouching low, Bart moved as quietly as he could toward Frank, still ready to shoot instantly. But in the gloom no pistol flashed, and no deadly bullet sang through the timber.
Bart found Merriwell with his arm about the frightened child, while near-by, on the ground, lay the body of the giant, sprawling grotesquely.
“Have you killed him?” asked Hodge, looking down at the silent ruffian.
“I’m afraid so,” said Frank.
“Afraid?” exclaimed the dark-faced youth.
“Yes.”
“Why afraid?”
“I have no desire to kill anybody.”
“But this murderous dog——”
“Not even a human being of his caliber.”