One of his fists landed on the Dutch boy’s ear, and Hans squawked louder than ever.
“Hoch, I peen gone grazy!” he cried. “Took him off I toldt you! Uf you don’d took him off he vill kilt mineseluf! Murter! Id hurts heem ven he hits me dot vay!”
Frank and Jack grasped them and dragged them apart, but Hodge turned on Diamond and gave him a crack that sent him up against the wall.
“Come on, the whole of you!” he shouted. “You can’t do us up! Give it to them, Merry!”
Hans broke away and tried to crawl under the bed, wildly crying:
“Oxcuse me vile I look vor my vatch! Id might step on somepody uf I don’d took care uf id.”
Merriwell made a leap and caught hold of Hodge, whom he ran up against the wall, where he held him, speaking sharply:
“Steady, Bart, old man! It’s all over! We have cleaned out the whole gang.”
Bart struggled a moment, and then a wondering light came into his eyes, which had been wide open and staring all the while. His hands dropped at his sides, and he ceased to struggle.
“What’s the matter?” he faintly asked.