The door came open with a bang.
“Come on, fellers!” cried the first fellow to enter. “We’s got him all alone! We kin fix him!”
Five or six young ruffians started to swarm in at the door. They had heavy sticks, and it was plain they meant to do Merriwell harm.
The one Frank had by the collar tried to give him a swinging blow, but, quick as a flash, Merriwell caught him up and flung him straight at the gang in the doorway!
The human catapult struck the foremost of the ruffians and nearly swept them off their feet. Before they could recover, Merry caught up the bat and charged them.
Mercilessly he belabored them over the shoulders. Once or twice he cracked one on the head.
They howled with terror and disgust, and Frank soon drove them from the dressing room. He slammed the door, barred it, and held them out successfully till some of the other players arrived on the field and came to his rescue.
The gang, seeing they had been baffled in their attempt, lost little time in getting away.
“I’d give something to know who put them up to the job,” said Frank. “I am sure they were hired to do me up. If I had not tumbled and acted in a hurry, they would have done it all right.”
Hodge was indignant.