“Oh, you will, will you,” shouted the now enraged lieutenant. “Well, I’ll show you!”
He sprang forward, and with his open palm struck Frank a stinging blow on the side of the face.
Frank in turn leaped forward, and the lieutenant stepped back and placed himself in an attitude of defense.
“You’ll have to pay for that blow,” exclaimed Frank, “I don’t care if you are my superior officer.”
“Don’t let that stand in the way,” said the lieutenant with a sneer. “I won’t hide behind that.”
Frank sprang forward to deliver a blow at his persecutor, when his arm was seized suddenly from behind. In vain he struggled to free himself. He was lifted from his feet as though he had been a child, and a voice exclaimed:
“Here! here! what are you fellows fighting about?”
The newcomer was Jack.
“Let me alone!” shouted Frank, now thoroughly aroused. “He struck me!”
“And what if I did,” sneered the lieutenant, “what are you doing to do about it?”