The boy who had struck at her started back in surprise.
“A girl!” he exclaimed.
Shirley broke into tears.
Dick had taken in the situation at a glance. He stepped quickly forward and with a single blow of his left fist knocked the boy who had struck Shirley to the ground.
Then the others jumped upon him.
Shirley’s tears stopped instantly and she watched the fight in wide-eyed amazement. Dick, bigger and stronger than the rest, was giving a good account of himself, but it was plain to Shirley that the weight of numbers must tell in the end.
Two boys went down before their leader’s fists, but they were up again in an instant and fighting back desperately. One attacked him from behind, but with a quick kick Dick shook himself free. Picking his nearest opponent up bodily, he hurled him full in the faces of the others; and they gave ground.
But only for a minute. Then they sprang forward again. Dick found himself hard pressed on all sides. He reeled under a blow that caught him on the point of the chin, and before he could recover, two stinging blows struck him in the jaw.
He made one last desperate effort, throwing himself upon his opponents, but the effort was vain.
Stooping, one of the boys picked up a rock, and waiting an opportunity jumped in quickly and struck him in the back of the head.