"I didn't see the fellow hit you."
"But you know who did it. You can't deny that. Who was it?"
"I can't tell."
Mason raised his heavy fist.
"Tell, or I'll break your pretty little nose!" he grated.
There was a step near at hand, and a calm voice said:
"Drop it, Mason! You should be ashamed to bully a man smaller than yourself. Don't dare to strike him!"
Hock looked around in astonishment.
Frank Merriwell was close at hand, coolly standing there, with his hands thrust into his pockets.
"Hey?" cried Mason, in surprise.