Quick as thought the man caught up the boy and flung him over the brink. Bart whirled through the air, struck the surface of the water with a great splash, and sunk.
In the meantime, Frank had been fighting fiercely, although taken at a disadvantage. Once he flung the stranger fairly over his head, but the man was up instantly, and, as Frank had slipped in doing the trick, it proved a misfortune to Merry, who was caught from behind.
Again Frank’s assailant uttered a sound, but this time it was a laugh of triumph.
“I have you now,” grated a hoarse voice in Merriwell’s ear.
“Oh, I don’t know!” returned Frank. “That’s not so sure.”
He gripped his body with a quick motion, and both rolled on the ground. Over and over they went. When they rose, the unknown was still clinging to Frank, having him at a disadvantage.
But Merriwell did not cease struggling for an instant. He did not seem to need to rest, for he continued to fight as fiercely as at the start, and he succeeded, at last, in breaking the hold of his enemy.
Frank whirled and grappled with the unknown.
“Now it is different!” he half laughed. “It’s not all going your way, my friend.”
“I’m no friend of yours!”