Out through the door tore the leader, yelling for them to follow him, and they came pouring after, still seething with fury, still uttering awful threats. The cab that contained Ready and his kidnapers had passed out of view some time before, but the leader of the freshmen pointed down the street, crying:
“They went that way—in a cab! We must scour the city! We must alarm every freshman and turn him out to search! Come on! Make a hustle now!”
It did not take long to turn out a great gang of freshmen who were frenziedly searching everywhere for the kidnapers and their victim. But Ready had been carried away in a hurry, and it was no easy thing to get track of him.
Jack Ready was gasping when he was flung into the cab and found himself clutched and held fast by somebody within it.
“What—am—I—up—against?” he feebly uttered.
He made a slight effort to break away, but a mild voice said:
“Take my advice, sir, and be placid and calm. It will avail you nothing to struggle, and you may damage your clothing.”
By the time this was said, others had come piling into the cab, the door slammed, and the horses started up with a jump.
Ready took advantage of the sudden starting of the cab, which jerked him over toward the man on the opposite seat. He bent down his head and drove it with great force into that individual’s stomach, nearly butting the fellow, out through the rear of the cab.
“Refuse me!” said Jack apologetically.