"There he is!"
"Grab him!"
Phil had bounded to his feet, realizing that he could no longer conceal himself from them. As he did so, both men sprang toward him, the Circus Boy eluding them by a leap to one side.
The men made a rush for him. At first Phil was inclined to stand his ground and give battle, but he reasoned that, being two to one, the chances were against him and that even if he were not captured, he might sustain injuries that would keep him out of the ring.
That was the deciding factor with Phil Forrest. Although he would have preferred facing his enemies, he whirled instead and started on a run, with both men pursuing him at top speed.
"He's out-running us. He'll get away!" cried one of the men.
"Run, run! Run for all you're worth!"
But they might as well have spared their effort. Phil was fleet of foot, and after getting a slight lead over them he turned sharply to his right, leaped a fence and lay down.
The men quickly discovered that they had lost their prey.
Then they became alarmed.
"Get out of here, quick! He will be following us!"
The men turned and ran swiftly in an opposite direction.