"Keep them away!" grated Bascomb. "Keep them away, and I'll fix this fellow now!"
Frank heard the bully's voice, but he could not see Bascomb. With a cry of unutterable fury, Merriwell leaped for his foe, caught him, grappled with him.
Then was seen such a mad struggle as not one of the boys present had ever before witnessed. Merriwell seemed like a tiger that had been stung to ungovernable rage, and Bascomb exerted every bit of skill and strength he possessed.
Round and round they whirled, away they reeled, and then a cry of surprise and horror suddenly broke from the crowd.
The beginning of the fight had been at a long distance from the brink of the bluff, but, all at once, it was discovered that, in the darkness, they had shifted about till they were close to the verge. And, unconsciously, they were staggering swiftly to the edge.
"Stop them!" shouted Hodge. "Quick, or they will go over!"
Fred Davis leaped forward, clutched at the struggling lads, but could not hold them. In a twinkling they tore away, and reeled on.
Others would have interfered, but it was too late. Both Hodge and Mulloy did their best, but Bascomb and Merriwell escaped their outstretched hands.
Then another cry of horror went up.
The fighting lads were tottering on the brink. They realized their peril at last; but, before they could make a move to save themselves, they went over.