The lad stretched out a long arm quietly, seized Davis by the elbow, drew him toward him a pace, and then hurled him violently backward. Davis went tumbling head over heels. Jack wasted no further thought on him, and turned to Lord Hastings.
Davis, very angry, pulled himself slowly to his feet and glared at Jack evilly. Suddenly he put his hand to his belt, whipped out his revolver, and levelled it straight at Jack.
But before his finger could press the trigger his wrist was seized in a strong grasp from behind and the weapon was twisted from his hand. Whirling angrily Davis looked into the face of Frank, who was smiling quietly.
"What's the meaning of this?" demanded the latter.
Davis face turned dark with rage.
"I'll show you," he cried, and struck a vicious blow at the lad.
But Frank had been prepared for some such move and stepped back quickly.
Davis missed.
Frank realized that this was neither time nor place to settle his grievance with Davis, so he took the simplest way out. His hand flashed to his belt and his revolver came to a level.
"That's enough," he said sharply. "One step forward and I'll shoot, so surely as my name is Frank Chadwick."